• GILBERT P. BAYORAN
Two persons were killed while another was wounded in a shooting incident that escalated into an armed encounter at the public plaza of Barangay Dancalan, Ilog, Negros Occidental yesterday.
In a report, the Police Regional Office-Negros Island Region (PRO-NIR) identified the first fatality as businessman Philip George Vail Sr., 50, who is the chairman of the board of Dancalan Private Academy.
Vail was shot by Vannie Galagate, 34, of Sitio Gusnit, Barangay Pinggot, prompting patrolling policemen, PCpl. Daniel Elbanbuena and PSSg Jason Gentilezo, to respond.
Galagate fired at them and Elbanbuena retaliated by shooting Galagate, who also died.
Stephen Tuanes, a tricycle driver, was hit by a stray bullet, but is now in a stable condition.
PMaj. Randy Babor, chief of Ilog Municipal Police Station, said they are looking into personal grudge as the motive behind the shooting incident.
Investigators recovered a caliber .45 pistol and a caliber .22 revolver from Galagate and Vail, respectively, along with three fired cartridges from the scene of incident.
In a statement, PBrig. Gen. Arnold Thomas Ibay, PRO-NIR regional director, lauded the swift and courageous action of the responding police officers, emphasizing that their immediate response prevented further casualties and ensured the safety of nearby civilians.
“While investigation is ongoing to determine the full circumstances of the incident, a stress debriefing is being arranged for the policemen,” he added. | GB
