‘Barker’ shot dead in Alijis

Police cordon the area in Barangay Alijis, Bacolod City, where a jeepney dispatcher or barker was shot dead by two unidentified men on a motorcycle Wednesday. (Photo courtesy of Bacolod City Police Office)

By Glazyl Y. Masculino

 

BACOLOD City – A barker or jeepney dispatcher was gunned down by two unidentified men on a motorcycle at Bangga Riles, Purok Maanyag, Barangay Alijis here last Wednesday.

Lieutenant Conrado Espino Jr., head of Police Station 7, identified the fatality as Mitzhel Yap, 40, of the said village.

Espino said Yap was standing by the roadside when the perpetrators shot him and fled.

The victim succumbed to five gunshot wounds in the head, chest, and upper arms.

Police recovered from the scene two empty shells and a slug of still unidentified caliber.

Espino said they are eyeing grudges as possible angle behind the killing.

“Naninigaw daw siya sa mga dumadaan na motorista, medyo bastos,” he added.

Barkers cajole passengers to board jeepneys in exchange for tips from the drivers.

Citing Yap’s mother, Espino claimed that the victim used illegal drugs, but he was not on the drugs watchlist of the police station.

“Wala namang complaint or record sa station against him (victim),” the station commander added.

Espino said they are looking for closed circuit television (CCTV) camera footages to help them identify the perpetrators.