By Glazyl Y. Masculino
BACOLOD City – Four persons were killed in separate shooting incidents here and in Negros Occidental from Dec 30, 2020 to Jan 1, 2021.
Violence greeted the New Year when a drug surrenderer was shot dead by unidentified motorcycle-riding suspects at Purok Sigay, Barangay 2 here last Friday.
Captain Leo Estopa, head of Police Station 2, identified the fatality as Jomar Pahamutang, 27, of the said village.
Estopa said the victim was celebrating New Year with his family at home when the assailants arrived and attacked him past 2 am.
The victim suffered gunshot wounds in the chest and stomach and was taken to a hospital where he was pronounced dead.
Police recovered from the scene six empty fired cartridges of .45 calibre ammunition and a slug.
Estopa said the victim survived the attempt on his life in August 2020 and went to Victorias City to hide for a while.
He returned here last November while preparing for his trip to Manila, where he was supposed to work, until he was gunned down, the station commander added.
Estopa said the victim surrendered to the police through Oplan Tokhang in 2018. But they could not yet say if the incident might be drug-related as they are looking into grudges as possible motive.
Estopa said the victim’s partner has no idea if he had previous misunderstandings.
“Possible nga ginbantayan siya,” he added.
On that same day in San Carlos City, Mercidito Pique, 56, of Barangay 2 was allegedly gunned down by his cousin Noel Geopano, 45, of Barangay Quezon.
Lieutenant Ruby Aurita, deputy police chief of San Carlos City Police Station, said the victim and the suspect had a heated argument over the latter’s debt that triggered the shooting.
Aurita said both had an agreement that Geopano will pay Pique P150,000 in December. However, the suspect only paid the victim P50,000 which reportedly angered the latter.
After their argument, Geopano went to his vehicle, returned to Pique, who was resting in their house, and shot him, Aurita said.
The victim suffered three gunshot wounds and was pronounced dead at a hospital.
Aurita said Geopano was arrested in pursuit operations early the following day at Barangay 2, where he was hiding.
Murder charges will be filed against Geopano today, January 4, she added.
In Isabela town, a radio operator of Binalbagan Municipal Police Station was killed by an unidentified perpetrator at Barangay Maytubig on Dec 31.
Police identified the fatality as Edgar Atido, 52, of Barangay Tinongan.
Atido was on his way home to celebrate New Year with his family when the gun attack happened.
The victim suffered gunshot wounds in the different parts of his body and was taken to Ignacio Arroyo Memorial District Hospital, where he was declared dead.
In Calatrava town, Rolly Cati-an, 35, of Barangay Agpangi was shot dead by unidentified assailants at Barangay Bagacay on December 30.
Investigation revealed that Cati-an was on his way home from the house of his father onboard his motorcycle when he was shot several times in his chest and head.
The victim was rushed to Calatrava District Hospital but was declared dead on arrival.
Police recovered from the scene three fired cartridge of calibre .45 ammunition.
