Sugarcane farmer shot dead in Passi City

By Jennifer P. Rendon

A sugarcane farmer was shot dead late morning of Oct. 13 in Passi City, Iloilo.

Ronel Benedicto, 35, of Barangay Talangonan, Passi City, was at the sugarcane plantation when the gun attack happened around 11 a.m. on Wednesday.

According to witnesses, Jenjill Barnisa, 57, also a resident of Talangonan, arrived at the sugarcane plantation with a break-type shotgun. He then shot the victim once.

Benedicto was hit in the face and was believed to have instantly died.

But he was still rushed to Don Valerio F. Palmares Sr. Memorial District Hospital in Passi City where he was declared dead on arrival.

Barnisa immediately fled after the incident and remains at large as of this writing.

Lieutenant Colonel Benjo Clarite, Passi City police chief, said bad blood between the two sugarcane farmers could have emanated from conflict on the terms of conditions of their tenancy.

Clarite said they’re still investigating the details of it.

A manhunt operation is still going on to arrest the suspect.