Business rivalry, land conflicts among possible motives

By Dominique Gabriel G. Bañaga

In response to a request by Bacolod City Councilor Ricardo Tan, who was recently ambushed by unidentified gunmen at Purok 12A in Barangay Alangilan, Bacolod City, the Bacolod City National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) revealed they have joined the investigation looking into the incident.
NBI-Bacolod head Renoir Baldovino said they have ruled out politics from the attack since Tan is not running in the 2019 midterm elections. They have also ruled out the possibility of the incident being a robbery attempt.
Baldovino, however, stated it is possible the suspects were hired gunmen. Law enforcement is presently looking at business rivalry as a primary motive.
The Bacolod City Police Office (BCPO), meanwhile, are considering land conflict as a possible motive after learning of a “previous issue” regarding a land purchase at the Campuestohan Highland Resort in Talisay City.
BCPO currently does not have any leads on the suspects’ identities.
Last Friday, Tan and his wife were ambushed by three still-unidentified gunmen.
BCPO director, Police Senior Superintendent Francisco Ebreo, said the gunmen immediately boarded a small white wagon following the incident and sped off towards an undetermined direction.
The city official and his wife sustained minor wounds, all of which were attributed to broken glass caused by bullets striking the vehicle’s windshield.
A total 24 empty shells from a 5.56 caliber firearms and seven empty .45 caliber shells were recovered from the crime scene./DGB, WDJ