Rizal, Cagayan – Mayor Joel Roma died after he was shot to death by still unidentified gunmen while speaking in front of a crowd during a rally at barangay Iluru, here, Wednesday evening.
Ruma was immediately rushed to the Tuao District Hospital for medical treatment of the gunshot wounds but he succumbed to multiple gunshot wounds on the different parts of his body while undergoing treatment.
Police authorities said that the shooting incident happened at around 9:30 pm inside the Iluru barangay gymnasium.
Two individuals, namely, Merson Abiguebel and Melanie Talay, were also injured during the said shooting incident.
The Rizal Municipal Police Station in coordination with the various units of the Cagayan Provincial Police Office established various police checkpoints and conducted the necessary hot pursuit operations against the fleeing gunmen.
Further, the police issued a flash alarm against the suspects in the different parts of the Cagayan Valley for the immediate arrest of the fleeing gunmen.
The Regional Mobile Force Battalion 2 and the PNP Provincial Forensic Unit also responded to the crime scene for investigation.
Authorities are currently conducting a thorough investigation to identify the perpetrators and determine the motive behind the attack.
The Police Regional Office 02 strongly condemned the killing of Mayor Ruma and has ordered the immediate resolution of the case.
Mayor Ruma and his wife, Atty. Brenda Ruma, are both running for mayor and vice mayor, respectively, in the upcoming May 2025 local elections. By HENT
