Ex-councilor’s son arrested for shooting pedicab driver

By Glazyl Y. Masculino

BACOLOD CITY – Police are investigating the motive behind a former councilor’s son allegedly shooting a pedicab driver in Barangay Suba, Calatrava, Negros Occidental, last Friday.

According to Police Major Wilfredo Benoman Jr., town police chief, the 46-year-old victim from Barangay Bantayanon was sitting in his pedicab when the 44-year-old suspect suddenly shot him in the face.

The victim was rushed to a hospital and is now in stable condition.

A spent cartridge case from a 9mm caliber firearm was recovered at the scene.

Benoman reported that the suspect was later arrested near his house in Barangay Suba.

The police chief noted that the victim and the suspect did not know each other.

He speculated that the suspect may have attacked the victim due to a random act of violence, commonly referred to as “tripping.”

Investigators are still trying to determine what triggered the suspect to assault the victim, as there was no reported altercation between them.

Benoman also mentioned that the suspect had previously undergone drug rehabilitation and had been involved in complaints related to violence against women and children (VAWC), as well as alarm and scandal.