Tanod shot dead outside house

By Glazyl Y. Masculino

BACOLOD City – Police are still blank on the motive for the killing of a tanod or village watchman at Barangay Marcelo, Calatrava, Negros Occidental last Saturday.

Police Major Ronald Santillan, town police chief, identified the victim as 48-year-old Angelo Dela Cruz.

Santillan said the victim was sleeping with his family when they were awakened by the voices of five unidentified armed persons around 5 a.m.

The victim went outside of his house to check the noise, but he was suddenly grabbed by the suspects while asking for his firearm, Santillan said.

Since the victim failed to show the said firearm, the suspects shot him in the head, while his family was told to stay inside their house, the police chief added.

The suspects then fled, bringing along with them the victim’s handheld radio, handcuff, and Identification (ID) card.

The victim was declared dead in a hospital.

Police recovered from the scene a fired cartridge case of .45 caliber ammunition.

Santillan said they are exploring all angles in the killing, including the possibility of it as insurgency-related or work-related.

This is the second shooting incident reported in the town this month, particularly in areas that were identified as red area or rebel-influenced, according to Santillan.

On December 2, a man was also shot dead by five unidentified persons in Barangay Lalong while the victim was resting along with his two helpers after cutting some trees in the area.