Farmer killed, wife injured in Negros Occ gun attack

By Glazyl Y. Masculino

BACOLOD CITY – Police are investigating possible grudges as the motive behind a gun attack that killed a farmer and wounded his wife at Sitio Cambugsok, Barangay Poblacion, Cauayan, Negros Occidental, on Tuesday night.

The fatality has been identified as 60-year-old Daniel Sieres, while his wife, Leticia, 58, sustained injuries.

Police Lieutenant Raffy Billones, deputy chief of the Cauayan Municipal Police Station, reported that the couple was sitting outside their home when two unidentified suspects approached and opened fire on them.

Daniel sustained gunshot wounds to the chest and leg and was pronounced dead at the hospital. Leticia was hit in the leg and has since been discharged from the hospital, Billones said.

Police recovered five spent cartridges from a .45 caliber firearm at the scene.

Billones stated that the survivor positively identified one of the suspects, leading to his arrest in Barangay Iling later that night. The other suspect remains at large.

The police are considering an alleged land dispute as a possible motive, but further investigation is needed.

The couple had left their previous residence and had been living in Barangay Poblacion for more than three years.

Murder and frustrated murder charges will be filed against the arrested suspect.

In a separate incident, a former security guard was shot dead at Purok Santan, Barangay Su-ay, Himamaylan City, last Tuesday.

Police identified the victim as 45-year-old Hernan Hilado, a resident of the same village.

Police Lieutenant Colonel Anthony Grande, city police chief, said Hilado was standing in front of a store when he was shot by two unidentified individuals, who were seen running toward the public plaza, followed by a series of gunshots.

The victim was declared dead at the hospital.

Four spent cartridges and a deformed bullet from a .45 caliber firearm were recovered at the scene.

Grande said they are considering grudges as a possible motive, but this is still under investigation. He added that they already have persons of interest and are exploring the possibility that two other individuals may have acted as lookouts.