Village watchman gunned down

By Glazyl Y. Masculino

BACOLOD City – Police are looking into insurgency-related issues as possible motive for the killing of a watchman at Sitio Tibobong, Barangay Quintin Remo, Moises Padilla, Negros Occidental last Tuesday.

The victim was identified as Marvin Caramihan, 50, of the said village.

Police Major Jovito Bose, town police chief, said Caramihan and his six-year-old son were on their way home onboard a motorcycle, when they were waylaid by unidentified armed persons.

Bose said Caramihan succumbed to multiple gunshot wounds.

The incident was witnessed by his minor-son, who was unharmed in the gun attack.

Bose said the victim was allegedly mistaken as an informant of the Army.

This is the third shooting incident this year, which can be linked to insurgency in the town, citing two previous murder cases in the past two months, Bose said.

Meanwhile, in Isabela town, police have already identified the two victims in another shooting incident that happened at Sitio Galo, Barangay 5 on the same day.

The victims were identified as Randy Macasa, 51, and Stephen Limen, 39, both residents of San Enrique town, based on a police report.

Police Captain Ar-jay Dangarang, Isabela town police chief, said the victims were reportedly supposed to meet someone, when they were shot by unidentified perpetrators upon reaching the said area.

Based on a copy of a closed-circuit television (CCTV) camera footage, the victims were seen riding a motorcycle from La Castellana town, according to Dangarang.

Recovered from the crime scene were 12 fired cartridge case, a live ammunition, a metal jacket, deformed fired bullet, and a metal fragment of a suspected .45 caliber firearm.

Dangarang said that Macasa had a previous case for disobedience to person in authority, while Limen had a drugs case.

He said they have yet to establish a motive, but they will look into a possible drug-related or something personal. He also said they have no lead yet on the perpetrators.