2 suspects arrested in fatal Negros Oriental shooting

BACOLOD CITY — Police arrested two suspects hours after a shooting that killed a man and injured another in Barangay Buenavista, Santa Catalina, Negros Oriental, on Friday, Oct. 16.

The first suspect, identified only by the alias “Jos,” was arrested Friday afternoon in Barangay San Isidro, Pamplona, after one of the victims identified him as an alleged perpetrator.

The second suspect, identified by the alias “Wil,” was taken into custody that evening after surrendering to a barangay official in Buenavista.

A witness also positively identified Wil as the companion of the first arrested suspect.

Brig. Gen. Rudecindo Reales, director of the Police Regional Office-Negros Island Region (PRO-NIR), said the arrests marked a significant development in the case, but stressed that the investigation was far from over.

Despite the apprehension of both suspects, police are continuing efforts to establish the complete circumstances surrounding the attack.

Investigators are considering a land boundary dispute as a possible motive.

Police said a previous disagreement reportedly involved the family of one of the victims and a relative of one of the suspects over property boundaries and the harvesting of coconuts from trees on the disputed land.

Authorities emphasized that the motive remains under investigation.

Reales directed investigators to intensify their efforts and pursue every credible lead to establish accountability for the shooting.

“We owe the victim, the family, and the community a thorough investigation and the pursuit of justice,” he said.

Based on the account of a victim who escaped unharmed, the four individuals were preparing to sleep when the two suspects, who were reportedly intoxicated, arrived.

One of the victims was reportedly speaking with the suspects while the others were lying in a makeshift sleeping area.

The suspects allegedly offered to sell a firearm to one of the victims, who refused.

Following the refusal, the suspects allegedly opened fire on the group.

The unharmed victim fled toward a nearby river, while another victim, who sustained injuries, also managed to escape.

The Negros Oriental Police Provincial Office (NORPPO) initially reported that two people were killed and two others injured, citing preliminary information from the remote crime scene.

However, further investigation established that one person was killed, another was injured, one escaped unharmed and a fourth person was reported missing.

Responding police officers found the body of a 59-year-old man lying on the ground with a gunshot wound to the head.

Crime scene investigators recovered two fired 9mm cartridge cases and two fired .45-caliber cartridge cases.

The recovery of cartridge cases of different calibers forms part of the evidence being examined to establish the circumstances of the shooting.

Reales also ordered investigators to exhaust lawful measures to locate the reportedly missing individual and determine what happened during the attack.

Police said the report concerning the missing person was still being verified as investigators continued gathering evidence and witness statements.