Ex-Village Chief Killed, Teen Hurt in Calatrava Shooting

By Glazyl M. Jopson

BACOLOD CITY – Police are investigating a land conflict as a possible motive behind the killing of a former village chief in Barangay Patun-an, Calatrava, Negros Occidental, on Tuesday.

Authorities withheld the names of the 64-year-old fatality and the 19-year-old farmer who was wounded.

Police Lt. Col. Wilfredo Benoman Jr., chief of the Calatrava Police, said the victim served as barangay captain of Macasilao from 2007 to 2010.

Benoman said the former barangay official was riding a passenger jeepney bound for San Carlos City when two unidentified men opened fire as the vehicle stopped around 8:30 a.m.

The victim sustained a gunshot wound to the head and was declared dead at a hospital.

A teenage passenger was also shot in the shoulder and is now recovering.

Investigators recovered two spent 9mm shell casings and a deformed fired bullet from the scene.

Police are reviewing closed-circuit television (CCTV) footage in the area to identify the suspects.

Benoman said authorities are also considering other possible motives for the attack.

He added that the victim owned several properties, including a sugarcane plantation.