Misoc mayor in narco-list slain in daring Cebu ambush

By FROILAN GALLARDO,
Special Correspondent

A MISAMIS Occidental mayor, who was in the narco-list of President Duterte, was killed in a daring broad daylight ambush in Cebu City yesterday.

Maj. Eduardo Sanchez, chief of the Abellana Police Station in Cebu, said police were escorting Clarin town Mayor David Navarro on the way to the City Prosecutor’s Office when a white van blocked the police convoy.

Sanchez said 10 men, armed with automatic rifles and pistols, stepped out of the van and demanded the escorting officers to hand over Navarro to them.

He said when they initially refused, one of the gunmen fired on the side door of the police car and forcibly took Navarro out.

Sanchez said the gunmen then shot and killed Navarro who was wearing a bullet-proof vest for protection.

“We were taken by surprise. The gunmen moved too fast,” M/Sgt. Carlos Balasoto said.

Two policemen and two aides of the mayor were wounded in the attack that occurred a few meters away from the City Prosecutor’s Office.

The police arrested Navarro Thursday as he was about to flee Cebu City after mauling a masseur.

The masseur complained that Navarro allegedly mauled him after he was given a female attendant in the parlor.

Sanchez said they were bringing the mayor to the City Prosecutor’s Office where cases acts of lasciviousness, usurpation of authority, and physical injury were to be filed against him.

He said the mayor was given a bullet-proof vest and escorts for his protection but these did not stop the gunmen.

Sanchez said the police car which the mayor rode was followed by a van with his sister, Princes and several of his aides.

Duterte named Navarro as among the 44 personalities in the narco-list two years ago.

Navarro had denied involvement in the illegal drug trade and presented himself to then National Police chief and now Sen. Ronald dela Rosa in an effort to clear his name.