Deputy Minister of Energy and Mines 49-year old Victoriano Santos Hilario was shot dead by hooded gunmen on Friday, 6 March 2015. His son, 20-year old Manuel Santos Gutierrez was seriously injured in the attack. Santos, who was laid to rest on Sunday, 8 March, was deputy minister in charge of energy efficiency and government energy savings. Santos was also a PLD pre-candidate for the post of mayor in Cotui, Sanchez Ramirez province. The Police Criminal Investigations Department (Dicrim) is investigating the murder.
According to reports, three armed and hooded men broke into Santo Hilario’s home in the Elfa sector in Cotui at around 10:30pm. They also shot and seriously injured his son before escaping. Nothing was stolen from the house.
His widow, Zoila Maria Gutierez, a prosecutor at the Sanchez Ramirez provincial Children’s Court, said that when she returned home with her son they were met by the three men who held him inside one of the rooms of the house. They later knocked on Santos’s bedroom door and took him into the hall where they shot him, before leaving in a Honda CRV.
During the wake, Energy and Mines Minister Pelegrin Castillo praised Santos saying he served as a permanent open channel for communication with the mining town of Cotui. He spoke of his enthusiasm for his work and the many goals and accomplishments he had underway.
Major General Manuel Castro Castillo told the press he suspects the murderers had “a specific mission.” The Police say this was not a robbery.
Santos Hilario was also president of the ruling PLD in the province of Sanchez Ramirez.
http://www.diariolibre.com/noticias/2015/03/08/i1045481_hijo-viceministro-asesinado-encuentra-estado-delicado.html