By Dominique Gabriel G. Bañaga 

A tricycle driver was shot to death by a still unidentified assailant near a shopping mall in Bacolod City’s Reclamation Area on Tuesday night, July 18.

Police identified the fatality as 28-year-old Joenil Pahilanga, a resident of Purok Cabugwason in the city’s Barangay Mansilingan.

Police Station 1 commander, Major Elmer Bonilla, said Pahilanga was on his tricycle when he was shot by a lone motorcycle-riding gunman along Rizal Street.

The suspect managed to escape by using the fleeing crowd and vehicles to elude the police.

Pahilanga sustained a fatal gunshot wound to the head.

He was rushed to the Corazon Locsin Montelibano Memorial Regional Hospital, but he was declared dead on arrival.

Authorities recovered an empty .45 caliber cartridge from the crime scene.

The incident took place during rush hour, when the area was filled with commuters.

Police are determining the motive in the killing./DGB, WDJ