Vice Mayor Rowell Mendoza Sandoval of Mabini town in Batangas was shot dead Tuesday night by still unidentified man right inside his call center in Bauan town, in Batangas province.

The 51-year-old Sandoval was at the ground floor the RHIC call center at around 8:40 pm when he was shot, right in front of his wife Wilma and a few other relatives, according to Senior Police Officer 2 Victor Panganiban of the Bauan Police, in a telephone interview with GMANews.TV.

The suspect – in denim shorts, blue T-shirt, and slippers – entered the building, fired at Sandoval six times, hitting him in different parts of the body, and then escaped. He was last seen fleeing towards Camella homes in San Pascual in Batangas.

Sandoval was immediately brought to Banauan Doctors General Hospital, but he died 30 minutes after arrival due to his gunshot wounds, Panganiban said.

“Wala pang motibo. Maaring pulitika o negosyo,” Panganiban said. “Pero mas malaki ang posibilidad na negosyo dahil may siya ng call center dito. Wala pa kaming lead. Wala pa kaming suspek.”

[Translation: “We haven’t established the motive. It may be political or business. But there is a greater possibility that it’s business-related, considering that he has a call center here (in Bauan). We still have no lead, no suspect.”]

Sandoval, a Liberal Party member, was known to be an staunch advocate for conservation and coastal resource management, especially in Mabini, where Anilao, a site popular among divers, is located.

In 2006, he was the part of the steering committe of the National Protected Area Summit along with Mayor Arleigh Siton of Cordova, Cebu, and Mayor Algerico Irizari of Lanuza, Surigao del Sur.

Sandoval was a councilor before he first ran and won as Mabini mayor. He went on to be the town mayor for 16 years. The current mayor is Nilo Villanueva. Aie Balagtas See, GMANews.TV