By CESAR JOLITO III

Authorities are looking at mistaken identity as a possible motive in the fatal shooting of a church driver outside the Bacolod Cosmopolitan Christian Church in Barangay Taculing on Sunday morning, August 24.

Police Station 6 commander, Captain Rosalino Pugoy, Jr. said they are also not ruling out the possibility that the victim, Efren Banagloryoso, may have had a conflict unknown to his family.

Pugoy confirmed that Banagloryoso had no prior police record and was not linked to any illegal activities.

Investigators said at least two suspects were involved in the shooting — the gunman and the driver of the getaway sports utility vehicle.

“The vehicle used in the attack had a plate number. We are pursuing leads to confirm its ownership,” Pugoy added.

Authorities are currently conducting backtracking and forward-tracking operations to trace the suspects’ movements and are reviewing additional closed-circuit television footage to establish clearer evidence.

Police continue to gather information as they work to identify the suspects behind the attack.

Banagloryoso, a resident of Barangay Granada, was repeatedly shot by an unidentified gunman after he had just left the church compound around 11:00 a.m.

The victim sustained fatal gunshot wounds to the head, chest and back, police said.

At least six empty shells were recovered at the crime scene./CJ, WDJ