Ex-kagawad killed, barangay captain-mom hurt in gun attack

By Jennifer P. Rendon

Severely wounded, a former kagawad was pleading to save her mother’s life after they were peppered with bullets by still unidentified assailants morning of Dec. 27 in Ibajay, Aklan.

Jim Belinario, 36, was able to utter the words “buligi niyo si Nanay (help my mother)” before he breathed his last.

His mother, re-elected Barangay Captain Madeline Belenario, 58, of Barangay Rivera, Ibajay, survived and is now in stable condition.

Police reports claimed that Madeline was on her way to the town proper to attend a gathering of village officials when the incident happened.

On board a motorcycle driven by Jim, the victims were navigating a road at Barangay Rivera, some 2 kilometers away from their house and 10 kilometers from the town proper, when they were waylaid by at least three gunmen.

Captain Rajiv Salvino, Ibajay police chief, said it was initially reported that the assailants were on board two motorcycles.

But investigation showed that the two motorcycles are motorists who overtook the victims.

Salvino said they recovered at least 15 fired cartridges of caliber .45 pistol from the crime scene.

Witnesses claimed to have seen the suspects fleeing on foot towards a village of the nearby Tangalan town.

Meanwhile, Jim died on the scene after sustaining a gunshot wound in the head.

Jim, whose wife is working abroad, was a father of four.

Salvino said they have persons of interest behind the incident.

Personal grudges against the victims could have triggered the killing.