• GILBERT P. BAYORAN
Two civilians were shot dead in separate incidents in the hinterland village of Gawahon in Victorias City, Negros Occidental on July 10, with police investigating whether the killings are connected.
The first victim, who was identified by the police as Jerome Seballos, a land caretaker, was found dead at around 8:20 a.m. in Sitio 5.
Before his body was discovered, residents in the area reported hearing multiple gunshots.
Two passersby later noticed a motorcycle parked along the roadside.
As they approached to inspect it, they discovered Seballos’ lifeless body lying near the motorcycle with apparent gunshot wounds to the head.
Police investigators recovered two empty cartridge cases from a caliber .45 caliber pistol.
Seballos was among the five alleged New People’s Army (NPA) rebels arrested by the police in Talisay City, two days after the April 19 encounter in Barangay Salamanca, Toboso, where 19 persons identified as NPA members died.
While police probers were processing the crime scene, another fatal shooting was reported about two kilometers away in the same place.
The second victim was identified as Alex Cunanan, 59, married, and a resident of Sitio 5.
Initial investigation showed that Cunanan’s son was allegedly seized by seven unidentified masked armed men and forced him to lead them to his father’s whereabouts.
Upon reaching the victim’s poultry farm, Cunanan reportedly spotted the armed men and attempted to flee.
However, the assailants fired at the victim, hitting him multiple times and killing him on the spot.
Police investigators recovered two spent cartridges of caliber .45 pistol and 11 bullet shells of M16 rifle from the second crime scene.
Police are conducting follow-up investigations to establish the identities of the suspects, determine the motive behind the attacks, and ascertain whether the two killings are related. | GPB
