JAEN, Nueva Ecija – Violence erupted in this town as unidentified sedan-riding men shot dead an incumbent village head while the latter was watering the plants at the boundary arch here on Friday morning.

Police head Major Baltazar B. Corpuz identified the slain village head as Bgy. Captain Zoilo ‘Anlo’ De Belen, 56, of Bgy. Lambakin.

De Belen is said to be a supporter of re-electionist Mayor Sylvia C. Austria, who is facing old rival Antonio Prospero Esquivel in next year’s local polls.

Corpuz said the barangay official died on the spot after sustaining several gunshot wounds in the chest and the back.

The gun attack was perpetrated by unidentified suspects riding a black Toyota Vios car in Bgy. Lambakin at 6:30 a.m.

De Belen was watering the plants alongside the boundary arch of the highway when the suspects on board a sedan suddenly appeared and shot the barangay official multiple times, resulting in his instantaneous death.

Probers recovered four cartridge cases for cal. 45 pistol at the crime scene.

Austria condemned the killing and urged the police to bring to the bars of justice those responsible for this dastardly act.

Nueva Ecija police authorities immediately created “Task Force De Belen” to investigate the killing and track down his killers.

Nueva Ecija top cop Col. Rhoderick B. Campo said he formed an investigation task group to hunt down De Belen’s killers.

Campo said his killers may have already established a pattern in the victim’s daily activities and waited that morning to execute their assassination plan.

He said they are now zeroing in on surveillance cameras in the area for possible identification of the suspects.

Meanwhile, the Association of Barangay Captains of Jaen headed by Lorenzo Manuel condemned their comrade’s killing and demand that justice be served to the victim.

“Gayundin po ang aming panawagan sa Department of Interior and Local Government at Pamahalaang Lokal ng Bayan ng Jaen ang pagbibigay ng pansin sa katayuan at seguridad ng mga Punong Barangay gayundin ng mga miyembro ng Sangguniang Barangay na kadalasang naiipit sa panahon ng pulitika, paglaban sa ilegal na droga at ang pagpapanatili ng katahimikan at kaasyusan sa aming nasasakupan,” the group said in their letter.

In Bgy. Lambakin, neighbors of the slain 56-year-old barangay official joined calls for justice for their Kapitan Anlo, who was fondly called as Lambakin’s version of Ang Probinsyano TV star, Coco Martin.

“Nakakatawang isipin na hanggang sa huling sandali ng kanyang buhay, ikagaganda pa rin ng barangay na pinaglilingkuran ang inaalala,” they said in their Facebook post. “Paalam Coco Martin ng Lambakin, your legacy will remain, #JusticeforKapAnlo.”