Tanod shot dead in market

By: Glazyl Y. Masculino

BACOLOD City – Another shooting incident happened in Negros Oriental last Sunday, killing a tanod or barangay watchman at the Oval public market in Barangay Panubigan, Canlaon City, Negros Oriental.

Killed was Anaciancino Rosalita, 50, of Barangay Bucalan.

Police probe indicated that Rosalita was walking when an unidentified man followed him and suddenly shot him several times.

The gunman allegedly took the victim’s firearm and fled on board a motorcycle with an unidentified companion, according to witnesses.

Rosalita was rushed to a hospital but was later declared dead on arrival.

Recovered from the scene were five fired bullets of .45 caliber pistol, eight live ammunitions of .357 caliber revolver, seven live ammunitions of .38 caliber revolver, and a deformed slug of .45 caliber ammunition.

The recent shooting incident over the weekend was the 14th incident since last week, killing 18 persons.

Police Brigadier General Debold Sinas, regional director of Police Regional Office (PRO) – 7, during his command conference with Col. Raul Tacaca, director of Negros Oriental Police Provincial Office (Norppo) and police chiefs last Sunday, said three incidents were confirmed to be perpetrated by the New People’s Army (NPA), based on the testimonies of witnesses and evidences.

These three incidents were the killing of rebel returnee Weny Alegre; and Felimino Janayan, president of United Calango Farmer Association (UCFA) in Zamboanguita town on July 24; and Buenavista village chief Romeo Alipan in Guihulngan City on July 25, and in Sta. Catalina town, victimizing a man and his child on the same day.

Sinas said they are investigating other incidents because it may be due to land conflict, business or politics, or personal, citing the killings of a former town mayor in Ayungon town, an incumbent councilor, and village chief in Canlaon City last Saturday.

He also said that the house of the former town mayor was allegedly robbed with almost P900,000 worth of jewelries when the shooting happened.

Sinas said they are also studying if the incidents involving lawyer Anthony Trinidad and the two educators were connected since the latter were reported to be Trinidad’s clients in a land dispute case.

“It can be revenge. We cannot conclude anything yet, just because of the manner of the killings,” he said.

We have to check first the authenticity of the evidences found and recovered from the crime scene because it may be used as modus by ordinary criminals, pretending to be rebels, he added.

Sinas said he already advised the police chiefs to talk with their respective local chief executives and determine the status of their respective areas and to coordinate with them to prevent further escalation of the incidents.

Sinas also directed the policemen to strengthen their police patrol in the province.

(This story was revised to correct the early information that Anaciancino Rosalita was a village chief)