P1M bounty offered for information on the suspects
By Dominique Gabriel G. Bañaga
At least two people were killed after a convoy, which included Moises Padilla Vice Mayor Ella Celestina Garcia-Yulo, was ambushed yesterday morning in the town’s Barangay Inolingan, the same neighborhood where Moises Padilla Municipal Councilor Jolomar Hilario was gunned down earlier this month.
While the vice mayor managed to escape the incident unharmed, authorities identified the fatalities as Moises Padilla Municipal Councilor Michael Garcia and his nephew Mark Garcia.
Moises Padilla municipal police chief, Police Captain Junji Liba, said the group was campaigning in the barangay when they were waylaid by 20 unidentified armed men who were aboard motorcycles and a pick-up truck.
Witnesses also claimed that several of the suspects, some of whom are armed with high-powered rifles, approached the victims, shot the two at “point blank range,” killing them on the spot.
The suspects then sped off in the direction of Isabela.
As of press time, Liba has yet to provide additional details.
Meanwhile, Negros Occidental Police Provincial Office director, Police Colonel Romeo Baleros, said an investigation team from Philippine National Police headquarters will be sent to probe the incident.
While it is currently undetermined if the vice mayor was the target, the Garcias are pointing blame at Moises Padilla Mayor Magdaleno Peña.
Following the incident, Negros Occidental Provincial Board Member Salvador Escalante, Jr. condemned the incident, calling them “senseless” and saying it “threatens the free conduct of elections in the town.”
In addition, Negros Occidental Governor Alfredo Marañon, Jr. and former Negros Occidental fourth district Rep. Jeffrey Ferrer are offering a P1 million bounty for information pertaining to the suspects.
The slain town councilor is the third local official murdered in recent days after Hilario and Escalante City Councilor Bernardino Patigas./DGB, WDJ
