5 armed men kill farmer

By: Glazyl Y. Masculino

BACOLOD City – A farmer died in a hail of bullets at Barangay Minautok, Calatrava, Negros Occidental Tuesday, June 11.

Slain was Jose Balopeños, 70, of the said village.

Police Major Rocky Desear, town police chief, said the victim was cultivating his farmland when the assailants armed with short and long firearms surrounded and shot him. The suspects then fled.

Balopeños succumbed to multiple gunshot wounds.

Police recovered from the scene 20 fired cartridges of .45 caliber, a fired cartridge of .9mm, and seven bullets of .45 caliber.

Desear said three of the five assailants were later identified as Leonardo Pahayahay, his brother Reneboy, both residents of the said village; and a certain “Gaga Jimeno” of Salvador Benedicto town.

The victim and the suspects had previous altercations and conflict over a piece of land.

Desear said the suspects are still at-large but they will be charged for murder.