Village chief, minor-nephew dead in NegOr shooting

By: Glazyl Y. Masculino

BACOLOD City – A family feud triggered the killing of a village chief and his nephew at Barangay Kalamtukan, Bayawan City, Negros Oriental Saturday night.

Slain were Johnny Semillano Condez, 47, incumbent barangay captain of Kalamtukan; and nephew Danny Marata Jr., 16.

Wounded was Marata’s father Danny Sr., who is Condez’s cousin.

Chief Master Sergeant Edelberto Euroba III, public information officer of Negros Oriental Police Provincial Office (Norppo), said the two slain victims, Danny Sr., and Edilito Magbanua were riding a barangay rescue vehicle, accompanied by two men on two motorcycles to look for a phone signal when unidentified assailants who were positioned at the area fired their guns at them.

A series of gunfire was heard, hitting Condez and his nephew. Magbanua and Danny Sr. were able to run away while the perpetrators whom they reportedly to have known-well escaped to evade the police.

Police recovered from the scene 15 fired cartridge case of .56 caliber, two misfired round for 12 gauge shotgun, a fired cartridge case for 12 gauge shotgun, four fired cartridge case for .45 caliber, three fired cartridge case for .9mm luger, a magazine for M16 rifle with thirty rounds of live ammunition, and a misfired round of .45 caliber.

“Binantayan na talaga sila sa area. Matagal nang may alitan sa pamilya at kaanak nila,” Euroba said, adding that the killing was probably planned.

Euroba said they already have five persons of interest but refused to divulge their identities as of press time.

Police Colonel Julian Entoma, Norppo director, has ordered personnel of Bayawan City Police Station to intensify their investigation and to dig deeper into the motive of the incident and clarify issues pertaining thereto so as to put an end to the killings in the said barangay and to put behind bars the responsible persons.

Tracker teams are now conducting pursuit operations to neutralize the perpetrators.

Entoma is appealing to all peace-loving and peace-promoting citizens of Bayawan City and the entire province as well to help the government in anti-criminality efforts.

He further said to settle disputes and conflicts by words and not with weapons for at the end of the day all law breakers will be made to answer for the infractions they’ve made against the law.