Gov. Vilma Santos trusted liaison officer ambushed

Sen. Ralph Recto and Batangas Governor Vilma Santos-
Recto political campaign ads in last May, 2010
national and local election

Batangas Gov. Vilma Santos’ executive assistant ambush-killing may have something to do with the upcoming 2013 local election where her active opponents were Batangas former political warlords, the Sanchezes.

Gov. Vilma Santos was married to Senator Ralph Recto, an avid Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo political ally and prominent member of the violent out-of-school oriented youth organization Triskellion-Tau Gamma Phi (TGP).  

The 62-year-old Santos’ executive assistance Cesar Guce, was ambushed and killed by 3 motorcycle-riding gunmen together with his driver, 34-year-old Randy Reyes, was also killed in the incident that took place in Batangas on Saturday morning. Both victims were residents of Barangay Pinagtung-ulan, San Jose, Batangas. Another companion, a 17-year-old boy, escaped unscathed.

According to a report, the victims were onboard a Toyota Land Cruiser (XDV-736) heading toward Cuenca town from Lipa City when they were waylaid by 3 motorcycle-riding armed men along JP Laurel Highway, Barangay Banay-Banay around 6:30 a.m.

Witnesses said the vehicle lost control and subsequently rammed into a watermelon stall along the highway after the suspects fired at them.

The motive according to some Batangas provincial capitol insiders might have something to do with illegal gambling or jueteng payola as Guce was also the liaison officer Gov. Santos at Batangas capitol and Senior Superintendent Alberto Supapo, Batangas police director on police matters.