Two Farmers Killed in Separate Negros Shootings

By Glazyl M. Jopson

BACOLOD CITY – Two farmers were shot dead in separate incidents in Negros Occidental on Saturday and Monday.

The latest case occurred Monday in Barangay Pinggot, Ilog, where 47-year-old “Jun-Jun” was found with multiple gunshot wounds near his sugarcane farm.

Police Maj. Randy Babor, chief of the Ilog Municipal Police Station, said the victim was discovered lifeless in a river near the farm that morning.

Investigators believe the victim may have tried to flee but fell into the river after being shot.

The incident was initially reported to the Candoni Municipal Police Station since the location lies near the border of the two towns in an isolated upland area.

Babor said police have identified a person of interest and are investigating whether a personal grudge was the motive.

He also confirmed that the victim had served a sentence for frustrated murder and had previous offenses but withheld further details pending investigation.

On Saturday, a 53-year-old farmer named Carlito was fatally shot at his home in Purok Lanipga, Barangay Minoyan, Murcia.

Carlito was preparing dinner with his two sons when two suspects arrived and approached him.

Police Maj. Sherwin Fernandez, Murcia police chief, said one of the suspects, identified as 33-year-old “Charlie,” shot the victim without any confrontation using an improvised shotgun.

As they fled, Charlie reportedly fired another shot to deter anyone from chasing them, while accompanied by his 69-year-old father, “Ben.”

The victim sustained a bullet wound to the stomach and was declared dead at a hospital.

His sons, who witnessed the shooting, were unharmed.

Fernandez said Ben was arrested Sunday at his home in Barangay Minoyan, while Charlie was captured the next day near the barangay proper.

Investigators said the shooting stemmed from a land dispute involving boundaries of a coffee plantation.

Fernandez noted this was the first time the dispute turned violent.

The victim’s family intends to file murder charges against both suspects.

Househelper Found Dead, Hit With Hard Object

A 24-year-old househelper reported missing for three days was found dead in Barangay 1 Poblacion, Hinoba-an, on April 30, with a head injury but no signs of sexual assault.

Police Maj. Jaynick Bermudez, chief of Hinoba-an Municipal Police Station, said the victim died from a blow to the head with a hard object.

Bermudez said two persons of interest have been identified, but the case is challenging due to a lack of witnesses and only circumstantial evidence.

The victim was last seen alive on April 27 when she left her employer’s house to attend the town fiesta.

Her decomposing body was discovered three days later in a densely vegetated area by a passerby.

Bermudez said locating the last person seen with the victim could help advance the investigation.

She was laid to rest on May 2 at the town cemetery, with her family calling for justice.