By Glazyl Masculino
BACOLOD CITY - Two shooting incidents were reported in two provinces of Negros, which claimed the lives of a barangay chairman in Dumaguete City, Negros Oriental, and a village councilor in San Carlos City, Negros Occidental.
Personnel of the Scene of the Crime Operatives (Soco) probe the crime scene, where a barangay chairman was gunned down at Barangay Poblacion 1, Tinago, Dumaguete City, Negros Oriental Tuesday. (Photo courtesy of Roy Ortega / MANILA BULLETIN)
In Dumaguete City, Chairman Harrison Gonzales, 52, of Barangay Poblacion 1, Tinago was gunned down by unidentified perpetrators in front of a village outpost around 9:30 p.m. on Tuesday.
Lt. Col. Mark Gifter Sucalit, city police chief, said that Gonzales, along with some village councilors, was rendering duty at the outpost in relation to the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic, when the armed men arrived, shot him several times using a .45 caliber pistol, and fled.
Gonzales sustained 14 gunshot wounds in the abdomen, back, and head. He was rushed to a hospital, where he later expired.
Police recovered from the scene eight fired cartridge and two slugs of .45 caliber, and the victim’s cellular phone.
Sucalit said that they still could not establish the motive, as they were exploring all possible angles behind the killing.
He, however, said that based on their initial background check on the victim, he was reinstated on March this year after he was previously dismissed due to a plunder case.
He said the killing was planned because he was really targeted during the attack, though he had lots of companions at that time. His activities were also probably monitored prior to the attack, the police chief added.
He said they are still coordinating with the victim’s family and gather statements from possible witnesses who can identify the perpetrators who were wearing face masks.
Meanwhile, in San Carlos City, Kagawad Novo Deocampo, 44, of Barangay 4 was shot dead by two unidentified men on a motorcycle outside his residence early Wednesday.
Maj. Mark Angelo Junco, city police chief, said the victim was about to ride his car when the motorcyle-riding assailants shot him several times.
Junco said that Deocampo succumbed to four gunshot wounds in the head, back, and chest.
Police recovered from the scene seven fired cartridges of .45 caliber, and a fired bullet of an unknown firearm.
Junco said that they are exploring all possible angles behind the gun attack, but they are also initially looking at his personal life and business which could be link to the killing.
He also said that the barangay official had not received any threats before.
The councilman had also no record of complaints against him in the city, the police chief added.
Junco said they have no lead yet on the identities of the perpetrators.