Gov’t worker fatally shot in San Carlos City

By Glazyl Y. Masculino

BACOLOD CITY – Police are investigating two possible motives behind the fatal shooting of a casual government employee in Barangay 2, San Carlos City, Negros Occidental, on Tuesday night.

Police Major Ryan Villasario, deputy chief of the San Carlos City Police Station, identified the victim as Jerome Ducay, 36, a resident of Barangay 5.

According to Villasario, Ducay was conducting an e-wallet transaction at a store when an unidentified person approached and shot him at close range.

Ducay suffered three gunshot wounds to the head and face, leading to his immediate death. The suspect fled the scene on foot.

Authorities are currently reviewing footage from a closed-circuit television (CCTV) camera to help identify the gunman and any potential accomplices.

Police recovered three spent shells and a bullet slug from a .45 caliber firearm at the scene. They also found the victim’s pouch, which contained a sachet of suspected shabu and ₱50.

Villasario said they are checking with the barangay to determine if Ducay was on any drug list or watchlist.

He noted that Ducay might have been the intended target of a previous shooting incident last month that resulted in the death of his friend in Barangay 5.

Police are investigating whether the suspect in the July shooting could be the same individual responsible for this recent attack. Villasario added that they have identified a lead and a person of interest.

The possibility that the attack was motivated by personal grudges against Ducay is also being considered. The investigation remains ongoing.