The Murcia Municipal Police Station in Negros Occidental launched a pursuit operation for the assailants in the murder of Sta. Rosa village councilor Joe Arnel Gawan on Monday, January 26.

In a report, the Police Regional Office – Negros Island Region (PRO-NIR) said the 59-year-old official was shot by an undetermined number of persons while alighting from a vehicle along the road in Purok Puncian about 10:25 a.m.

“We can’t confirm yet how many persons fired at the victim. There’s no witness yet who can provide concrete information,” Captain Honey Labaro, town police chief, said in a radio interview.

In a separate interview, fellow councilor Nicholas Jundana said they just came from a village clean-up activity and Gawan was on his way home when he was shot.

“Those who witnessed the incident and those who have information, let’s extend help to get justice for our kagawad,” he appealed.

According to the PRO-NIR, the Murcia Municipal Police Station is conducting follow-up operations for possible identification and location of the suspect/s and also requested the assistance of scene of the crime operatives.

“Hot pursuit operation was conducted and the conduct of dragnet operations from neighboring police stations was also requested,” it added. (PNA)