DAVAO CITY (August 3) – A pastor of the United Church of Christ in the Philippines (UCCP) in Antipas, North Cotabato was shot dead Friday at about 7:15 in the morning by still unidentified suspects.
The Antipas Police Station in a spot report identified the victim as Ernesto Javier Estrella, 51 years old, married, pastor of UCCP Antipas and a resident of Purok 6, Brgy Malatab,Antipas.
Initial police investigation revealed that Estrella was traversing the road of Baranngay onboard his Yamaha STX bearing plate number LY 1059 going to Poblacion Antipas, when two unidentified suspects onboard of Yamaha XTZ coming from the opposite direction stopped him and immediately shot the victim using undetermined caliber of pistol hitting his head which resulted to his instantaneous death.
Dr. Flora Mae Sumugat, Municipal Health Officer of Antipas arrived at the crime scene and declared the victim dead.
Lt. Colonel Bernard Tayong, said the shooting occurred in an isolated portion of the barangay road .
“The victim died on the spot,” Tayong said, adding that investigation is ongoing while the police are trying to establish the identities of the suspects.
Among the angles that the police probers are looking at was the victim’s alleged links with leftist organizations.
Estrella’s wife told police investigators that her husband had no known enemies. -jap/newsline.ph
