By Dominique Gabriel G. Bañaga

The Negros Occidental Police Provincial Office (NOPPO) said they are considering three motives behind the killing of incumbent Moises Padilla Municipal Councilor Jolomar Hilario.

NOPPO director, Police Colonel Romeo Baleros, said the investigation remains ongoing and they are currently looking at personal, political, or business-related motives.

The NOPPO official said Hilario was said to be asleep when three truckloads of New People’s Army (NPA) rebels ransacked his house and peppered him with bullets.

Witnesses claimed that suspects shouted “Long live the NPA” before they withdrew from the area.

It was also noted, prior to the attack, Hilario had been receiving threats from the insurgent group.

Hilario is the first casualty in Negros Occidental after the start of the campaign period for local candidates.

His wife Michelle, who serves as a barangay captain, and their children were reportedly unharmed and were made to drop to the floor when the armed men barged into their home.

Jolomar died on the spot from multiple gunshot wounds.

It was also noted that his head was nearly decapitated as a result of his wounds.

The victim was the former barangay captain for the town’s Barangay Inolingan before running for municipal councilor in 2013.

He was aligned with incumbent Moises Padilla Mayor Magdaleno Peña./DGB, WDJ