Negros Occidental’s 7th MWP injured in shooting

By Glazyl Y. Masculino

BACOLOD City – A man wanted for murder charges was wounded after he was allegedly shot when he attempted to escape from his alleged abductors in Kabankalan City, Negros Occidental yesterday.

The victim was identified as Jimmy Fermo, 37, of Barangay Tampalon.

Police Lieutenant Dennis Melgarejo, deputy police chief of Kabankalan City Police Station, said Fermo slept at his friend’s house in Barangay Tampalon when four unidentified persons allegedly entered his friend’s house and handcuffed him around 3 a.m.

Fermo also alleged that he was blindfolded and mauled by the perpetrators, Melgarejo said.

Fermo attempted to escape but he was shot, hitting his left foot and right leg, Melgarejo said.

Fermo alleged that he was also allegedly forcibly taken to a multicab and was left at the diversion road in Barangay Talubangi around 6 a.m. When police responded, he was brought to a hospital.

Melgarejo said that upon checking the background of the victim, police found out that he has a standing arrest warrant for murder.

Thus, police served him the arrest warrant with no bail recommended issued by Presiding Judge Rodney Magbanua of Regional Trial Court Branch 61 in Kabankalan City.

Melgarejo said that Fermo is the top 5 most wanted person in Kabankalan City and top 7 at the provincial level. He is now under hospital arrest.

The arrest warrant stemmed from an alleged stabbing and hacking incident killing his neighbor in the city in 2021.