A former barangay official was killed yesterday morning in Barangay Kumaliskis in Don Salvador Benedicto.
Police identified the fatality as Nanding Torreno, a former barangay councilor and brother of Municipal Councilor Dodoy Torreno.
Based on initial investigations by Don Salvador Benedicto municipal police, the victim was traveling on his motorcycle when he was reportedly blocked by a red vehicle. One of the vehicle’s occupants then opened fire using a .45 caliber pistol. The former barangay official was killed instantly after sustaining three gunshot wounds, one of which struck his head.
The suspects, meanwhile, immediately fled in the direction towards San Carlos City.
Town police immediately alerted their counterparts in San Carlos City, who subsequently organized a checkpoint. A few hours later police intercepted three individuals aboard a motorcycle after it was discovered they were carrying a .45 caliber pistol and a hammer.
Negros Occidental Police Provincial Office (NOPPO) director, Police Colonel Romeo Baleros, identified the three arrested individuals as 27-year-old Jonever Nuñez, 32-year-old George Larida, and 42-year-old Armando Larida, all residents of Don Salvador Benedicto.
Baleros said the three are currently considered “persons of interest” as they still must undergo paraffin tests. In terms of the recovered firearm, which was owned by the elder Larida, it will be subject to ballistic examinations.
He pointed out, the three will be charged for the murder if the slug and empty shell recovered from the crime scene will matched the said .45 caliber firearm.
The alleged gunman, meanwhile, denied the allegations and claimed he and his two passengers were heading for work in San Carlos City.
He also refused to further elaborate on the firearm recovered from his possession.
The elder Larida faces possible charges for illegal possession of a firearm, while his two passengers potentially face conspiracy charges.
Police are now investigating the incident with Baleros stating, “Investigators are presently looking at the angle of [a] personal grudge as the motive.”/DGB, WDJ