Tricycle driver slain after naming alleged octogenarian killer

BACOLOD CITY — Police are investigating a possible link between a person of interest and the killing of a 53-year-old tricycle driver in Barangay Salvacion, Murcia, Negros Occidental, on Tuesday.

The victim, identified as alias “Ernie,” a resident of Barangay Salvacion, was shot dead 10 days after an 80-year-old man was found dead inside his home in Barangay Handumanan here on Sept. 19.

According to police investigators, Ernie had gotten off his tricycle and was talking to several bystanders when an unidentified gunman approached and shot him with an unidentified firearm, hitting him in the head and body.

He was rushed to a hospital but was declared dead.

Police Capt. Honey Labaro, chief of the Murcia Municipal Police Station, said the gunman fled the area on a motorcycle with an unidentified companion.

Labaro declined to disclose further details, including the possible motive, as the investigation remains ongoing.

During Wednesday’s media briefing at the Bacolod City Police Office, Police Col. Eugene Rebadomia, BCPO director, said they are conducting a parallel investigation with the Negros Occidental Police Provincial Office because Ernie had previously been linked to the investigation into the elderly man’s killing in Barangay Handumanan.

Rebadomia said Ernie had reportedly given a radio interview in which he identified another person as allegedly responsible for the elderly man’s death.

Ernie was shot dead two days after the interview.

Police are now looking into the person named by Ernie as a possible person of interest in his killing.

Rebadomia said authorities will conduct profiling and a thorough investigation to build a strong case against the perpetrator.