Work angle probed in lawyer’s shooting

By: Glazyl Y. Masculino

BACOLOD City – The Negros Oriental Police Provincial Office (Norppo) is looking into work-related angle as possible motive for the gun attack on a lawyer in Dumaguete City, Negros Oriental Friday morning.

Police Colonel Julian Entoma, Norppo director, said they are investigating the possibility that the shooting of Ray Moncada, 74, has something to do with the victim’s profession as he has been handling land dispute cases.

Moncada was injured after he was allegedly shot by unidentified motorcycle-riding assailants outside his house around 8:45 a.m. Friday.

The victim was preparing to go to his office when their doorbell rang. He opened the gate and the assailants, who were wearing jackets and helmets, suddenly shot him.

Moncada suffered a gunshot wound on his back and was taken to a private hospital in the city.

Entoma said he is now in stable condition and under police security.

Authorities recovered from the scene five fired bullets of .45-caliber ammunition and a deformed slug.

Entoma said the assailants left a letter with threats against the lawyer before fleeing.

The letter, which was recovered by the police, said the lawyer should leave the place or something will happen to him or his family if he refused, the provincial police director added.

Entoma said the lawyer had been receiving threats because of his profession.

Police believed that the perpetrators were hired gunmen but they have no identities as of press time.

The recent incident came barely six months after lawyer Anthony Trinidad, 53, of San Carlos City, Negros Occidental was killed while his wife survived the ambush at Barangay Poblacion, Guihulngan City in July 2019.