Land dispute eyed in Maayon shooting

By Felipe V. Celino

ROXAS CITY, Capiz — Police on Tuesday, May 5, said a land dispute may have been the motive behind the killing of a 64-year-old laborer in Sitio Ilawod, Barangay Alasaging, Maayon, Capiz.

The Maayon Municipal Police Station identified the victim as George Bengan, 64, a resident of the area.

Police Capt. Danilo F. Lauron, Maayon police chief, said investigators were looking into a land dispute based on a previous barangay record that remained unsettled.

He said village officials had recommended the matter to the Department of Agrarian Reform for possible settlement.

Lauron said police were coordinating with the victim’s family to identify and arrest the suspect.

“We have gathered information that the suspect is a professional hitman because the two of the relatives of the victim were spared from the attack”, the police chief said.

Police said Bengan and two companions were loading bamboo onto a top-down motorcycle parked beside the road when the lone gunman arrived.

Based on the testimony of a minor companion, the suspect was alone on a Bajaj motorcycle and was wearing a helmet when he arrived at the area.

Without saying a word, the suspect pulled out an unidentified firearm and shot Bengan several times in the body before fleeing toward Barangay Dulunan.

The Maayon police and the Maayon Emergency Response Team responded and brought Bengan to Bailan District Hospital in Pontevedra town.

He was declared dead on arrival by the attending physician.

A team from the Scene of the Crime Operatives arrived and recovered three empty shells from a .45-caliber firearm at the crime scene.

Police are continuing their investigation, while a manhunt for the suspect is ongoing.