Mother, child killed in Sipalay strafing

By Glazyl M. Jopson

BACOLOD CITY — Negros Occidental Police Provincial Office director Col. Dennis Wenceslao has ordered a thorough and exhaustive investigation into the gun attack on a family that killed a mother and her 3-year-old child in Barangay Nabulao, Sipalay City, Negros Occidental, on Wednesday.

“I ordered the Sipalay police to look into all possible angles surrounding the case, establish the identities of the perpetrators, and gather sufficient evidence to ensure the filing of appropriate criminal charges against all persons involved,” Wenceslao said in a statement.

Police Capt. Judesses Catalogo, Nocppo spokesperson, said five members of a family were gathered in their living room when two unidentified persons stormed the house, and one of them suddenly opened fire repeatedly with an M16 rifle.

The 27-year-old mother and her child died on the spot after sustaining gunshot wounds to the chest, while another child, 9, a 62-year-old grandmother, and a 46-year-old relative were wounded, according to Catalogo.

Recovered from the scene were 36 fired cartridge cases from a 5.56 mm firearm.

“It was a senseless act of killing. The gesture of the shooter showed to kill anybody,” Catalogo said.

Catalogo said the incident might not be insurgency-related, as investigators are looking into a personal motive since the victims were known as financiers of merchandise in the area.

Hours after the incident, another shooting happened in the upland part of Barangay Manlucahoc, killing a farmer.

However, police have yet to reveal details about that case pending investigation.