Man shot dead over unpaid debt in Negros Occidental

By Glazyl M. Jopson

BACOLOD CITY – Police arrested one of two suspects involved in the fatal shooting of a 46-year-old motorcycle rider outside a gasoline station in Barangay Suba, Calatrava, Negros Occidental over the weekend.

Police Capt. Jesus Alba, chief of the Calatrava Municipal Police Station, said the victim and his wife were on their way home after buying food when two individuals ambushed them late Saturday afternoon.

Alba said the victim was first shot in the stomach, and after falling off the motorcycle, was shot again in the head, while his wife was unharmed.

The victim was rushed to a hospital but was declared dead on arrival.

Investigators recovered three spent cartridge cases of an unidentified firearm at the scene.

Alba said police are eyeing a personal grudge stemming from an unpaid debt as the possible motive.

Police Lt. Col. Joem Malong, spokesperson for the Police Regional Office–Negros Island Region (PRO-NIR), said one of the suspects had demanded payment from the victim, who said he could not pay.

The victim’s wife positively identified one of the suspects, leading police to arrest a 41-year-old man in Barangay Macasilao Proper.

His companion, believed to be the motorcycle driver during the escape, remains at large.

Murder charges will be filed against both suspects.

In a separate incident, a 40-year-old construction worker was found dead with multiple stab wounds in Purok Sagrado Dos, Barangay Estefania in Bacolod City on Sunday.

Police Maj. Joeil Reclamado, head of Police Station 4, said the victim was having a drinking session at home when the suspect called him outside.

As the victim stepped out, the suspect allegedly attacked him with a bladed weapon, inflicting 15 stab wounds.

The suspect was later arrested at his residence in the same barangay after being identified by a witness.

The murder weapon was not recovered, as the suspect reportedly threw it into a nearby creek.

Reclamado said the attack was triggered by a personal grudge.

Murder charges were filed against the suspect on Monday.