By CESAR JOLITO III
The Police Regional Office in the Negros Island Region (PRO-NIR) has created a Special Investigation Task Group (SITG) to investigate the daylight killing of a barangay kagawad in Negros Occidental’s Cauayan town yesterday.
The newly formed SITG will be composed of investigators from the Negros Occidental Police Provincial Office, Cauayan police, the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group, and other support units, in coordination with the 15th Infantry Battalion of the Philippine Army.
The task group will explore all possible motives, including the victim’s role as barangay official and his affiliation with the anti-communist movement.
Authorities identified the victim as a barangay kagawad and active member of Sambayanan–Cauayan Chapter, an anti-communist organization.
According to initial police reports, around 5:00 a.m., six unidentified armed men arrived at the victim’s home in Barangay Tambad, called him outside, and ordered him to sit before shooting him multiple times without warning.
The suspects immediately fled toward an unknown direction.
The victim sustained gunshot wounds to the chest and abdomen and was declared dead on arrival at the Cauayan Health Center.
Police recovered three empty cartridges and one deformed slug of 5.56 mm caliber at the scene, believed to have been fired from a long firearm.
NOCPPO’s Scene of the Crime Operatives and Forensic Unit are now processing the area and collecting evidence for ballistic and forensic examination.
PRO-NIR Director Police Brigadier General Arnold Thomas Ibay condemned the attack, calling it a “cowardly act that has no place in a peaceful and democratic society.”
“We condemn in the strongest terms this violent attack against an elected barangay official. Rest assured that the PRO-NIR will exhaust all resources to ensure that justice is served swiftly and that those responsible are held accountable,” Ibay said.
He added that PRO-NIR remains steadfast in maintaining peace and security across Negros Island and in safeguarding the lives of local officials who are partners in promoting order and development in their communities.
Police investigators are pursuing several leads as they intensify the probe into the incident./CJ, WDJ