One dead, five hurt in shooting at Escalante City fiesta

By Glazyl M. Jopson

BACOLOD CITY — A purok fiesta ended in tragedy when an altercation between two individuals escalated into a shooting, killing one and injuring five others in Sitio Buntoranon, Barangay Washington, Escalante City, Negros Occidental past midnight on Sunday.

Police Capt. Lindsey Caraballe, deputy chief of the Escalante City Police Station, said it is still unclear what triggered the altercation between the two individuals.

He said the suspect allegedly drew a firearm targeting only one victim but eventually opened fire, causing injuries to more individuals.

The primary victim sustained multiple gunshot wounds and was declared dead in a hospital.

Five other individuals in the vicinity were hit by stray bullets and are currently under medical care, based on a report from the Police Regional Office-Negros Island Region.

A purok is a subdivision or cluster of households within a barangay, the smallest administrative unit in the Philippines. Purok fiestas are community celebrations common in rural and semi-urban areas, often marking patron saint feast days and drawing residents together for food, music, and socializing.

Recovered from the scene were one live round of ammunition, six fired cartridge cases of .45 caliber, and two fired cartridge cases of 9mm, all now undergoing forensic examination.

A hot pursuit operation was promptly launched, leading to the arrest of a 48-year-old male suspect who voluntarily surrendered to police in Barangay Bulwangan, San Carlos City at 11 a.m. on the same day.

The suspect will be charged with homicide, frustrated homicide, and physical injuries.

He will undergo paraffin testing as part of the ongoing investigation.

The investigation remains ongoing to determine the motive behind the attack and to establish the participation of other individuals.

Police Brig. Gen. Arnold Thomas Ibay, PRO-NIR director, lauded the operating units for their swift action and early breakthrough in the case.

Ibay said the response reflects their firm resolve to act swiftly and decisively in addressing violent incidents.

“We will sustain this momentum until all those involved are identified and brought before the bar of justice,” he added.

Ibay directed all concerned units to intensify follow-up operations to ensure the immediate identification and arrest of the remaining suspects, while maintaining heightened police visibility to prevent similar incidents.