By Dominique Gabriel G. Bañaga

The brother of former Berya group member and bagman Ricky Serenio was shot and killed by still-unidentified gunmen yesterday morning in Barangay Singcang-Airport, Bacolod City.
Police identified the fatality as 31-year-old Wilmar Serenio, a resident of the said barangay.
Police Station 8 (PS8) commander, Police Senior Inspector Wilfredo Benoman, Jr., said, around 12:15 a.m., Wilmar was walking in the area of Purok Sampaguita 1, in the said barangay, when a white Mitsubishi Adventure with no license plates stopped in front of him.
The vehicle’s occupants reportedly exited the vehicle and shot Serenio several times, then proceeded to flee the crime scene.
Bystanders rushed the victim to the Corazon Locsin Montelibano Memorial Regional Hospital (CLMMRH), where he died two hours later due to multiple gunshot wounds across his body.
Members of the Philippine National Police (PNP) Scene of the Crime Operatives (SOCO) recovered six fired .45 caliber cartridges, one deformed slug, and a bullet with traces of blood at the crime scene.
Meanwhile, in an interview with local radio stations yesterday, the former Berya drug group member named Efren Billanes as a suspect, saying he believes the killing of his brother is a clear threat against him after naming individuals involved with the illegal drug trade in Negros Occidental.
Serenio also said he is not afraid of revealing more information, even if the suspects will target his family. He challenged the other suspects to target him instead, adding he is not hiding and even goes out at night with friends.
Billanes, meanwhile, denied his involvement, claiming Serenio has a grudge against him because he tipped off police as to his whereabouts in Talisay City, which led to his arrest.
Benoman, meanwhile, said they are not currently treating Billanes as a suspect as they must first interview the witnesses./WDJ