A newly elected barangay chairman in Pagadian City, Zamboanga del Sur was shot dead Wednesday night, November 8, 2023.

Elected Barangay Lapidian Chairman Rodolfo Dacul was supposed to park his tricab when the gunman onboard a motorcycle shot him.

Police said the victim sustained gunshot wounds on his body, while several empty shells of caliber .45 pistol were found in the crime scene.

The Police Regional Office-9 said this is the first shooting incident after the Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan Elections (BSKE).

“Sa ngayon, sa record natin, matatawag natin siyag suspected election-related incident kasi bagong elected official siya sa barangay na yon. But this report is still subject for validation. We want to assure the public that the incident is being handled with utmost seriousness,” PRO-9 Spokesperson, Lt. Col. Helen Galvez, said.

Authorities added that Barangay Lapidian is the only area in the city identified as area of election concern in the last polls.