By CESAR JOLITO III

A 54-year-old former barangay kagawad was killed in a shooting incident at Barangay San Pablo in Negros Occidental’s Manapla town early yesterday morning.

Police identified the victim as alias “Pablo,” a resident of Hacienda Cabayao.

Initial investigation revealed that around 6:00 a.m., an unidentified male suspect approached “Pablo” under the pretense of looking for a missing carabao.

The man asked about the victim’s residence before engaging him in a brief conversation.

Moments later, the suspect reportedly pulled out a firearm and shot the victim multiple times in the head and body.

The victim died on the spot, police said.

Witnesses said the suspect also entered the house and threatened the victim’s family before fleeing toward the mountainous area nearby.

Responding police recovered 10 empty shells and one live ammunition of a .45 caliber pistol at the crime scene.

Investigators from the Scene of the Crime Operatives of the Negros Occidental Police Provincial Office have been called in to process the site, while hot pursuit operations are underway to track down the assailant.

Authorities said the motive behind the shooting remains unknown as of press time./CJ, WDJ