Seaman killed in ambush

By: Jennifer P. Rendon

A SEAMAN died while his female companion was unscathed in an ambush in Sibalom, Antique early morning of Aug. 24, 2019.

Erwin Bendol, 48, of Poblacion Belison, Antique, was driving his Nissan Navara pick-up when gunmen shot them at Barangay Cubay Napultan at around 2:55 a.m. Saturday.

Bendol and his companion were on their way to Belison from San Jose town when ambushed.

His companion claimed it was raining hard when she saw an SUV-type vehicle tailing them before she heard gunfire.

A one bullet hit Bendol’s shoulder before piercing his heart, initial police and medical reports indicated.

The side where his female companion was sitting had marks of bullet holes but she was unscathed.

Bendol was brought to a hospital but died around 8 a.m. of the same day.

Police recovered from the scene four caliber .45 bullets.

Police Captain Rex Farren, Sibalom police chief, said they are looking at several angles in the incident.

Police investigators learned that Bendol, who was allegedly drunk, slapped a minor inside a convenience store in San Jose town two hours before the shooting.

He also sideswiped a vehicle while at a hotel in San Jose and ran away from the scene.

Farren said they are looking if any of the incidents had something to do with the murder.

“We have yet to establish if he also made enemies in other areas,” Farren said.

Farren said they would also secure CCTV camera footages in areas where the victims passed by before the ambush.