Kagawad’s husband shot dead in front of wife

By Glazyl Y. Masculino

BACOLOD City – Police are not discounting the possibility that the killing of a man, who is a husband of a village councilor in Barangay Salamanca, Toboso, Negros Occidental yesterday, could be insurgency-related.

The victim was identified as Allan Macasling Sr., 55, of the said village.

Police Major Jun Ray Batadlan, town police chief, said the victim was at his fish pond situated in front of their house when five unidentified persons arrived around 8:10 a.m.

Batadlan said the perpetrators had a brief conversation with the victim’s wife before one of them shot him in the head with a .45 caliber firearm.

Batadlan said the perpetrators told the victim’s wife that her husband allegedly committed an offense.

The suspects, whose faces were covered with bonnets, then fled on foot, leaving the victim’s wife unharmed.

Batadlan said the barangay has been reported to be rebel-influenced, but they could not confirm yet if the gun attack is insurgency-related.

He also said that they are looking into grudges as a possible motive since the victim would allegedly scold those who were caught wandering in his fish pond. “Kis-a kuno abi may gapangawat sa punong niya,” the police chief added.

According to the victim’s wife, her husband recently received a threat after he caught a person at his fish pond, Batadlan said.

“Basi bala may nagbalos sa iya,” he added.

Investigation is ongoing.