Filipino President Aquino pledges to do everything to find gunman who killed mayor

Filipino President Aquino pledges to do everything to find gunman who killed mayor

2011-05-06 03:58:04 GMT+7 (ICT)

MANILA (BNO NEWS) -- Filipino President Benigno S. Aquino III on Thursday promised the family of a murdered mayor to do everything he can to bring to justice the gunman who killed him.

Calbayog City Mayor Reynaldo Uy, 59, was shot in the back by a lone gunman on Saturday evening while attending a night dance on the eve of the town's fiesta in Hinatangan, which is located in Northern Samar province.

The shooting happened during the opening prayer for the occasion which was also attended by three other town mayors. Uy died the following day while undergoing surgery at the St. Paul's Hospital in Tacloban City.

Aquino flew to Calbayog City on Thursday morning to visit the wake of the slain Liberal Party leader at the city's sports complex and condoled with the mayor's wife and four adult children.

The president and the relatives talked for about 15 minutes, during which they handed over to Aquino a letter which stated their concerns. "He took his time to read the letter," said Rosa Jessica Uy, the mayor's eldest daughter. "We have high hopes that we will get justice."

"We are very happy. It is very rare for the President to come here," Eunice Babalcon, a provincial board member who was injured in her right forearm during the shooting, said.

Around the city, yellow posters with inscription "Justice for Ining Uy" are being displayed all over the city to remember to slain mayor, and in hopes to find the person responsible. No arrests have been made as of Thursday.

-- © BNO News All rights reserved 2011-05-06