Six gunmen kill laborer in La Castellana

By Glazyl M. Jopson

BACOLOD CITY — A 44-year-old laborer was shot dead by six unidentified armed men in Sitio Old Manghanoy, Barangay Manghanoy, La Castellana, Negros Occidental, on Monday evening.

Police Maj. Romulo Gepilango, chief of the La Castellana Municipal Police Station, identified the victim by the alias “Rehny,” who had a previous case for attempted homicide.

Initial investigation showed that the victim and his cousin were at their small fishpond when the suspects suddenly emerged from a nearby sugarcane plantation at about 6:30 p.m.

Police said the assailants approached the victim and shot him several times.

Before fleeing, the suspects allegedly shouted, “Dugay ka na namon ginpangita” (We have been looking for you for a long time).

The victim sustained multiple gunshot wounds and was pronounced dead at a hospital.

Gepilango said the victim was allegedly involved in gun-running activities and illegal drugs.

He added that the victim was able to post bail for his attempted homicide case last year.

Police said they have yet to identify the suspects and are still determining the motive behind the killing.