Vice-Mayor in Batangas gunned down by lone suspect

Miami
August 27, 2008
Story: Vice-Mayor in Batangas gunned down by lone suspect

A Vice-Mayor from a province of Batangas was gunned down on his own building Tuesday night by only one suspect.

The incident transpired at around 8:40 pm of August 26, 2008 at the ground floor of RSIC Call center which is owned by the victim and located in Barangay Poblacion 3, Bauan, Batangas.

The victim was identified as Rowell Sandoval, 51, vice-mayor of Mabini town also in Batangas which is the town next to Bauan.

According to Supt. Antonio Malabanan, Chief of Police of Bauan Police Station, the building has two floors, the incident happened at the ground floor of the building, at the lobby particularly where Sandoval was sitting with his wife, when suddenly the lone suspect went inside the building and shot Sandoval several times.

After shooting Sandoval, the suspect went outside as if he did not do anything.

Sandoval sustained five gunshot wounds and all of these shots entered at the back of his body. Malabanan said that Sandoval was not facing the front portion of the building when he was shot that is why all of the shots came entered at his back. The fatal shot is the bullet that entered through his left chest.

Malabanan admitted that they do not have a lead yet on who is the suspect and why did this to the Vice- Mayor. He added that the Vice-Mayor has no death threats prior to this incident.

The RSCI Call center building has only two floors. At the time of the incident there are employees working at the second floor of the building. But no one hurt in the incident.

Sandoval was able to rush at Bauan General Hospital but pronounced dead on arrival.

Recovered from the crime scene are eight empty shells of .45 caliber.