BACOLOD CITY – A lawyer and general manager of the Northern Negros Electric Cooperative (Noneco) in Negros Occidental was shot dead by unidentified gunmen inside his car on 16th Lacson St., Barangay 7 here past midnight on Wednesday, Dec. 21.

Police identified the victim as Danny Pondevilla, 47, of Barangay Mansilingan here.

Pondevilla had served as project supervisor and acting general manager of the Central Negros Electric Cooperative (Ceneco) here.

Col. Thomas Joseph Martir, Bacolod City police director, said that Pondevilla had just attended a Christmas party in a hotel here on Tuesday, Dec. 20, and decided to park his car for a while nearby to sober up before driving home.

According to the victim’s executive secretary who was with him during the incident but was unharmed, two men

on a motorcycle shot her boss when he opened the door on the driver’s side.

Police recovered from the crime scene the victim’s 9mm caliber firearm loaded with magazine with no bullets, a slug, and a fired bullet of .45 caliber firearm.

Martir said they are looking into work-related or something personal as possible motives in the incident as

the victim reportedly had threats.

He said they will gather all closed-circuit television (CCTV) camera footages from all establishments that captured the victim’s car before the shooting happened.

Lt. Jonito Pastrana, head of Police Station 2, said there are some issues they could not divulge yet as investigation is ongoing.

Pastrana said they also have two persons of interest, including the victim’s secretary.

The victim’s secretary agreed to undergo a paraffin test, along with a man, who picked her up when the incident happened, Pastrana said.

Pastrana said they are also verifying the allegations of the victim’s family as they have raised some questions based on the circumstantial evidence.

The victim was somehow tied to his seatbelt when police arrived at the crime scene, and the fired bullet was recovered on the opposite side, Pastrana said.

Pondevilla’s secretary also turned over his cellular phone to his family, a few hours after the incident, with deleted conversations between her and the victim, according to Pastrana.

The Bacolod police is conducting an in-depth investigation on the case.

The Philippine Rural Electric Cooperatives Association (Philreca) has expressed their heartfelt condolences to the Pondevilla family.

In a statement posted on its Facebook page, Philreca said that his passing is a great loss to Noneco and the whole rural electrification movement.

“His dedication and passion will forever remain as an example to us and to all advocates of the movement. We fervently hope that his family’s faith remains steadfast during these trying times,” they said.

We lost a friend, a strong advocate of the movement, and a loyal Warrior of Light. His dedication will forever be an inspiration to us, Philreca said.