Coop exec survives assassination try

BATAC CITY, Ilocos Norte, Feb. 7–Erwin Dumlao y Diokno, 51, married, of Brgy. 11, Laoag City and manager of the MMMH cooperative canteen here was shot and wounded by a hooded lone gunman who attacked him inside his car at about 5:30 p.m. on Monday, police said.

Supt. Marlon Paeste, city police chief, said that based on a CCTV footage, the victim came out from the canteen and entered his Honda Civic car which was parked inside the Mariano Marcos Memorial Hospital (MMMH) compound here when the assailant suddenly appeared in front of Dumlao’s car and repeatedly shot him at close range.

The victim was wounded in the chest and left arm. Bloodied, he managed to alight from his car and dashed towards the canteen to seek help.

Attending doctors released him later from the hospital as he sustained only superficial wounds.

It was learned that the victim’s car steering wheel saved his life as it absorbed all the gunshots directed to him.

Paeste said they would investigate all angles including personal grudge to determine the motive of the slay attempt. (tsg w/ report from rj, nm, ga)