By Glazyl Y. Masculino
BACOLOD City – Police are looking into grudges as a possible motive behind the killing of a man at Purok Masagana, Barangay Poblacion 2, Sagay City, Negros Occidental last Thursday.
Killed was Jomarie Matarong, 38, of Barangay Maquiling.
A public school teacher identified as Marilyn Mangulabnan, 56, of Barangay Poblacion 1, was wounded in the incident.
Police Lieutenant Colonel Roberto Indiape Jr., Sagay City police chief, said that Matarong was driving his motorcycle home when an unidentified person on board another motorcycle overtook and shot him.
Matarong lost control of his motorcycle and fell to the ground. Another unidentified person, who was already waiting in the area, shot him again and fled along with the first gunman.
The victim suffered five gunshot wounds in the head, body, and chest, according to Indiape. He was declared dead on arrival at a hospital.
Mangulabnan, who was also riding a motorcycle driven by her relative, just passed by the area when she was hit by a stray bullet.
Indiape said that Mangulabnan thought at first that a transformer exploded. It took her a while to notice that she suffered a gunshot wound in her left leg, the police chief added.
Mangulabnan is now stable at a hospital, Indiape said.
Police recovered from the scene three deformed bullets, and six cartridge cases of .45 caliber.
Indiape said that Matarong had a previous murder case which was dismissed after the complainant failed to attend the hearings when they transferred to another place.
Indiape said they are checking if Matarong had other previous cases.
