By CESAR JOLITO III

Two individuals were shot dead while another was wounded in separate shooting incidents in Negros Oriental and Negros Occidental earlier this week.

In Negros Oriental’s Tayasan town, a 40-year-old farmer was shot dead by four unidentified armed men in Barangay Lag-it’s Sitio Dinacupan at 3:20 a.m. on Tuesday, September 16.

Police reported that the victim was killed instantly before the suspects fled in an unknown direction.

Due to the remote location — about 60 kilometers from the Tayasan Police Station with no telecommunications signal — the incident was only reported in the afternoon.

Later that day, the New People’s Army issued a statement through Ka Dionesio Magbuelas, spokesperson of the Romeo Nanta Command, claiming responsibility for the killing, saying the slain farmer was punished as an alleged military informant.

Meanwhile, in Negros Occidental’s Cauayan town, a 27-year-old laborer was gunned down while a 19-year-old woman was injured during a birthday celebration in Barangay Camalandaan’s Sitio Sinuwayan on Monday, September 15 at 11:30 p.m.

Police said the male victim had been drinking with the celebrant’s family when two unidentified suspects armed with long firearms arrived and ordered him to go outside the house.

Upon reaching the doorway, the suspects shot him multiple times, resulting in his instant death.

The woman, who was standing by the door, was accidentally hit by a stray bullet on her left arm.

She was rushed to the Merciditas Montilla Memorial Hospital in Sipalay City for treatment.

Responding Cauayan police recovered five fired cartridge cases of 5.56 mm and one fired cartridge case of 7.62 mm at the scene, while Tayasan police continue to investigate the other case.

Both incidents remain under investigation as authorities work with barangay officials and the Philippine Army to identify and pursue the suspects./CJ, WDJ