Lawyer, court staff hurt in shooting incident during demolition ops

A private legal counsel and a court process server were hurt after a farmer opened fire at the team implementing a writ of demolition at a barangay in Palo, Leyte on Wednesday morning.

According to a police report from the Police Regional Office 8, Atty. Alexander Lacaba, 60; and Tacloban Regional Trial Court process server Adolfo Petilla, 59, suffered gunshot wounds and were brought to the hospital.

Police identified the suspect as a 67-year-old farmer, a resident of Barangay Cavite West in Palo.

Court personnel reportedly went to Barangay Cavite West around 8 a.m. on Wednesday morning for a demolition operation. The shooting was reported to have happened at 9:30 a.m.

Police said the witnesses included the court sheriff and an employee of the Commission on Human Rights.

According to the police, the suspect will face a complaint for two counts of frustrated murder and violation of RA 10591. —NB, GMA Integrated News