Man shot dead in Binalbagan

By Glazyl Y. Masculino

 

BACOLOD City – A man was gunned down by an unidentified assailant at 1st Street, Barangay Progreso, Binalbagan, Negros Occidental Monday night.

Killed was Lester John Belbar, 41, of the said village.

Major Fernando Somblingo Jr., town police chief, said the victim was checking his cellular phone in front of his neighbor’s house, when the gunman arrived and shot him at close range.

“Possible na pattern siya kay amo na iya routine according to his mother,” he added.

Belbar suffered multiple gunshot wounds and was rushed to a hospital where he was declared dead.

The gunman fled on board a motorcycle, along with his unidentified companion, who served as lookout, Somblingo said.

Police recovered from the scene five cartridges of .9mm caliber ammunition.

Somblingo said they are eyeing old grudges as possible motive behind the killing.

He, however, said that they also do not discount the possibility that it might be drug-related because the victim’s mother told the police that she was suspecting her son to be involved in drugs.

“Medyo secretive daw siya sa family niya about sa activities niya,” the police chief added.

“We’re investigating deeper to determine the real motive,” he said.

He said the victim was previously working abroad and went home after he lost his job due to the pandemic.