RP congressman assassinated

RP congressman assassinated

MANILA (Reuter): A member of the Philippine House of
Representatives was shot dead outside the legislature just meters
from a police post, police said yesterday.

Tito Espinosa, a former judge representing the island province
of Masbate just south of Luzon, was shot three times at close
range on Tuesday night.

Police said Espinosa, 49, was traveling in a van with several
other people.

The gunman walked up to the van when it stopped at an
intersection near a police post and opened fire. The politician
died in a Manila hospital during surgery. None of his companions
was hurt.

"We have not established any motive. It could be related to
the coming election or it may be a result of an old grudge,"
police investigator Rafael de Peralta said.