BACOLOD CITY – Suspected members of the New People’s Army (NPA) killed a 43-year-old laborer in front of his pregnant wife and two children in Barangay Marcelo, Calatrava, Negros Occidental Friday, August 12.
Police identified the victim as Renato Estrebillo.
Estrebillo was murdered five days after a businessman was gunned down by alleged NPA members in Barangay Marcelo on August 7.
Police Corporal Resty Sevilleno, investigator of the Calatrava Municipal Police Station, said armed men arrived at the house of Estrebillo looking for him.
They introduced themselves as soldiers to lure the victim out of his house, Sevilleno said.
The victim was shot as soon as he stepped out of his residence. He died on the spot.
Police recovered from the crime scene two fired bullets from a .45 caliber pistol.
Sevilleno said they are looking into the possibility that the same gunmen are behind the two shooting incidents in the barangay.
The victims were alleged to be military assets but this has not been confirmed.
With the occurrence of two similar incidents, Sevilleno said they have already coordinated with the Philippine Army.