BACOLOD CITY - Police are looking into the “mistaken identity” angle behind the ambush on four persons that killed three of them in Barangay Palampas, San Carlos City, Negros Occidental on Sunday, Feb. 20.
This, after the owner of the white Mazda sedan that was riddled with bullets by four unidentified armed men turned out to be an alleged drug personality in the city, according to Police Staff Sgt. Mark Anthony Pasilan, case investigator of San Carlos City Police Station.
Pasilan said that the perpetrators might have targeted the owner of the car who was not on board the vehicle at the time of the ambush.
The ambush happened while Andre Fajardo, 18, of Barangay 6; Russel Bucao, 40, of Barangay Rizal; Rudy Dela Fuente, 52, of San Juan Baybay; and Renante Chui, 27, of Barangay 6, on board the vehicle driven by Bucao, were on their way to a cockpit arena in the village.
Pasilan said the armed men were reportedly seen fleeing on board a silver van.
Fajardo, a runner/helper; Bucao, who was hired as a driver that day; and Dela Fuente, a fighting cock handler were killed in the gun attack, while Chui was wounded in the incident.
Pasilan said that it was Bucao who reportedly arranged to use the car because of his sideline as a driver. The police have not established the link between Bucao and the car owner.
A manhunt operation has been launched against the perpetrators.