By CESAR JOLITO III

Police officers in central Negros Occidental are conducting investigations into two separate incidents reported on Wednesday evening, December 17, involving a fatal shooting in Moises Padilla town and a vehicular accident along the national highway in Manapla town.

In Moises Padilla, a 34-year-old man was killed in a shooting incident at around 5:00 p.m. in Purok Sab-a, Barangay Montilla.

The victim, a resident of Sitio Balunggay in the same barangay, was riding his motorcycle from Sitio Haroy when he was reportedly flagged down by two unidentified men.

Initial police findings showed that the victim stopped and approached the suspects, at which point one of the men suddenly shot him, hitting his right arm and right armpit.

The assailants immediately fled the scene after the attack.

The victim was rushed to the Moises Padilla District Hospital but was declared dead on arrival by the attending physician.

Further investigation revealed that the victim had allegedly received threats last November 10 in connection with a land dispute involving a resident of Barangay Montilla, a lead that police are now looking into as a possible motive.

Meanwhile, in Manapla, five people were injured in a vehicular accident that occurred at around 6:45 p.m. along the national highway in Barangay Tortosa.

Drivers of a black motorcycle with a sidecar and a multipurpose vehicle were reportedly traveling in the same direction from Victorias City toward Manapla.

Investigation showed that a bolt from the footrest of the motorcycle’s sidecar suddenly detached, causing the driver to lose control and swerve into the inner lane.

This led to a collision with the vehicle.

The motorcycle driver and his four passengers sustained minor injuries and were taken to Saint Ann Hospital for medical treatment.

Both vehicles incurred damage of undetermined cost./CJ, WDJ