By Dominique Gabriel G. Bañaga

Three people were confirmed dead while another was seriously wounded after their vehicle was ambushed by unidentified gunmen at Sitio Villa Elena, Barangay Talampas in San Carlos City, Negros Occidental yesterday morning.

Police identified the fatalities as 17-year-old Andre Fajardo; 40-year-old Russel Bacao; and 51-year-old Rudy Dela Fuente, all residents of the said city.

The wounded victim was identified as 27-year-old Renante Chui, also a resident of the said city.

San Carlos City police chief, Police Lt. Colonel Jesus Mesahon, Jr., said the victims were onboard a white Mazda sedan and were on their way to a cockfighting event when they were ambushed by unidentified gunmen.

Fajardo and Bacao were instantly killed in the attack, while both Dela Fuente and Chui were rushed to the San Carlos City Hospital for treatment.

Dela Fuente, however, perished en route to the hospital due to multiple gunshot wounds on his body.

According to Mesahon, they still haven’t determined as to how many gunmen were involved in the attack, although he hinted that they were “many” as the victims’ car was heavily riddled with bullet holes.

Police also recovered empty .45 caliber and rifle-caliber shells at the crime scene.

San Carlos City police are currently investigating the incident.

The ambush was the second recorded this month following last week’s ambush on a police patrol car perpetrated by the New People’s Army in the town of Binalbagan which left two police officers and a teenage civilian wounded./DGB, WDJ