By JEN BAYLON

A former police officer was shot dead by five alleged assailants at Barangay Dulao in Negros Occidental’s Bago City yesterday morning.

The victim has been identified as Reynaldo Bernil, a resident of Barangay Pacol in the city.

An initial police investigation showed Bernil was returning to the poultry farm he was guarding after dropping off his child at school.

The victim was suddenly fired upon by unidentified individuals while he was driving his motorcycle in Purok Michelle.

Authorities recovered 16 fired cartridges of caliber 5.56 mm, nine fired cartridges of caliber 9mm, one live ammunition of caliber 9mm, one fired bullet of caliber 9mm, a handheld radio, and a cellphone from the scene.

A pursuit operation against the suspects is ongoing as of this writing.

Reportedly, Bernil had previously faced murder charges, along with former police asset Carlo Riosora of the Silay City Police Station, after the alleged fatal shooting of Senior Police Officer 4 Roger Cañete in Barangay Poblacion Dos, E.B. Magalona town in 2015.

An investigation is ongoing./JB, WDJ