BACOLOD CITY – A barangay councilor was shot dead by unidentified gunmen in Sitio Canurong, Barangay Puso, La Castellana, Negros Occidental on Wednesday night, May 1.
A BARANGAY councilor was gunned down in Barangay Puso, La Castellana, Negros Occidental on Wednesday, May 1. (Photo courtesy of La Castellana Municipal Police Station)
Police identified the victim as Reynaldo Jacolbe, 48, of Barangay Puso.
Police Major Sherwin Fernandez, La Castellana police chief, said the victim was driving a motorcycle on his way to his farm when he was shot by the suspects who waited for him in a sugarcane field beside the road.
The victim was wounded but managed to continue driving a few meters away from the suspects until he slumped to the ground and shot again.
Recovered from the crime scene were a fired cartridge case and slugs of 9mm and .45 caliber pistols.
Fernandez said they are exploring all possible angles, including love triangle, grudges, and land dispute.
Police are not discounting the possibility that the killing may be insurgency-related since the area is considered to be rebel-infested.
Police are looking into at least three suspects behind the gun attack.