Suspected drug personality shot dead in Kabankalan

By Glazyl Y. Masculino

BACOLOD CITY – An alleged drug personality was shot dead at Purok 6, Barangay Bantayan, Kabankalan City, Negros Occidental, early Wednesday.

Police identified the fatality as Cedric Jaro, 21, of Barangay Locotan.

Based on the initial investigation, some residents heard gunshots and later found the wounded victim on the road around 2:20 a.m.

Jaro suffered gunshot wounds to the head and leg and was brought to a hospital, where he was declared dead, according to the police.

Police Lieutenant Colonel Roberto Indiape Jr., city police chief, said the incident could be drug-related since the suspects were also tagged as drug suspects.

Indiape noted that only one gunman attacked the victim, but they believe he had some companions.

A follow-up operation is ongoing for the apprehension of the suspects.

Meanwhile, in La Castellana town, a 44-year-old truck driver from Moises Padilla town also died after being shot by the son of his live-in partner in Barangay Puso last Sunday.

Police Major Rhojn Darell Nigos, town police chief, said they are looking into grudges related to a family affair as a motive in the incident.

Nigos said the 26-year-old suspect was angry because his mother entered into a new relationship less than a year after his father’s death.

“It probably made him feel bad,” the police chief added.

Police investigation indicated that the victim was sitting on an improvised chair with his friend outside a store when the suspect arrived.

Nigos said the suspect confronted the victim and then shot him. The victim suffered multiple gunshot wounds and was declared dead in a hospital, according to Nigos.

Recovered from the scene were a magazine with two live rounds and seven spent cartridge cases from a .45 caliber firearm.

Nigos said murder charges have been filed against the suspect as of last Tuesday. They are also investigating how the suspect obtained the firearm.

Skeletal Remains Found

Police are having difficulty identifying skeletal remains found in a sugarcane field at Hacienda Valing, Barangay Blumentritt, Murcia town, last Monday.

Police Captain Rodney Sarona, deputy chief of Murcia Municipal Police Station, said a 55-year-old sugar worker discovered the remains while plowing the field.

Sarona said they have coordinated with nearby areas to check for any reported missing persons, as nobody has claimed the remains.

He stated that only a DNA examination would enable them to identify the remains, which have been buried in a public cemetery in the town.