By Glazyl Y. Masculino
BACOLOD City – A former tanod (village watchmen) chief was shot dead by two unidentified motorcycle-riding assailants at Barangay Poblacion 1, Sagay City, Negros Occidental on Tuesday.
Police Major Antonio Benitez Jr., city police chief, identified the fatality as Jesus Suico, 56, of Barangay Vito.
Suico’s three-year-old granddaughter survived the attack.
Benitez said Suico was on board a multicab vehicle, along with his wife and granddaughter when they were tailed by the assailants who wore bonnets and ball caps.
Benitez said the gunmen overtook the victims’ vehicle and repeatedly shot them.
Suico succumbed to four gunshot wounds. His wife was unharmed, but their granddaughter, who was seated beside Suico, was allegedly hit by a stray bullet.
Police recovered from the scene four empty shells of .45 caliber ammunition.
Benitez said they are waiting for the results of the medical examination to determine if the child was indeed hit by a stray bullet or shattered crystal from the car’s window during the attack.
Benitez said they are looking into work-related and illegal drugs as possible motives behind the attack.
He said Suico received threats last year but they are not yet sure if it was related to his previous job as a village watchman or his alleged involvement in illegal drugs.
He said Suico surrendered to the police last year through Oplan Tokhang, and he was subjected to monitoring.
His son also surrendered to the authorities in the same year but refused to undergo the booking process, thus he was included in the drugs watchlist, the city police chief added.
He said they already have two persons of interest.
