Calinog village watchman killed in gun attack

By Jennifer P. Rendon

A barangay tanod, or village watchman, was killed in a gun attack early Saturday, June 13, in Calinog, Iloilo.

The victim, identified by police as alias Jhonyl, 45, of Barangay Malag-it, Calinog, had come from a neighbor’s wake when he was shot at about 1:10 a.m.

Police said Jhonyl was walking home about 140 meters from the wake when a gunman waylaid and repeatedly shot him.

Initial investigation showed that Jhonyl sustained two gunshot wounds to the lower abdomen, with exit wounds on his back, and another wound on his left upper arm.

Capt. Melvin Mercado, Calinog police chief, said police recovered five spent shells from a .45-caliber pistol at the crime scene.

The victim was immediately taken to Calinog District Hospital.

He was later referred to the West Visayas State University Medical Center, where he died at 3:30 a.m. the same day.

Mercado said police have identified a person of interest in the killing.

“He could be alone. But we’re not discounting the possibility that he has a companion when he did it,” he added.

Mercado declined to provide further details or discuss the possible motive behind the incident.

He said the victim had not figured in any altercation from the time he arrived at the wake at about 9 p.m. on June 12 until he left more than four hours later.

Police are still investigating and gathering evidence against the identified person of interest.