By CESAR JOLITO III

Murder charges were formally filed against two suspects involved in the fatal shooting of a woman who was gunned down on June 6 near the vicinity of the Negros Occidental District Jail (NODJ) after visiting her live-in partner, who is facing a drug-related case.

The victim was identified as 41-year-old Ma. Lowela Forter, a resident of Barangay 2 in Manapla town.

She was reportedly shot by riding-in-tandem assailants at around 4:00 p.m. while she was outside NODJ in Bago City.

According to authorities, Forter had just finished visiting her live-in partner, who is currently detained in connection with an illegal drugs case when the attack occurred.

Police are still withholding the identities of the suspects but confirmed that sufficient evidence has been gathered to support the filing of murder charges.

In a statement, Police Captain Judesses Catalogo, Negros Occidental Police Provincial Office spokesperson, said investigators are also exploring possible motives behind the killing, including whether the suspects are linked to a gun-for-hire group or drug-related transactions.

“Investigators are continuing to build the case and determine if the suspects have connections to organized criminal activities,” Catalogo said, adding that cooperation from the victim’s family played a key role in identifying leads and strengthening the complaint.

Police said follow-up operations are ongoing to locate and arrest the suspects as the case moves forward in court./CCJ, WDJ