By Jennifer P. Rendon
A barangay tanod was found dead with a gunshot wound along a trail in Barangay Amparo, Pavia, Iloilo on the evening of March 22.
The victim was identified as Carmelino Minor Jr., 51, whose body was discovered several hundred meters from his house in Zone 4-B.
Police said he sustained a gunshot wound to the upper left torso, believed to have come from a 12-gauge shotgun.
A passing motorist spotted a parked motorcycle along the trail around 9 p.m. and later found Minor slumped on the ground nearby.
The victim was unresponsive, with blood coming from his mouth, according to police.
Pavia police chief Maj. Harold Rendora said Minor was likely dead for about an hour before he was discovered.
Earlier, around 7:50 p.m., Minor went to a barangay kagawad’s house to get his newly issued uniform.
He was supposed to report for duty but never made it to the barangay outpost.
A witness claimed to have heard a gunshot past 8 p.m. but assumed it came from a power transformer.
Rendora believes Minor may have known his attacker, citing that he was able to park his motorcycle properly.
“He could have had a short chat with the assailant before he was shot at the spot where he was found,” Rendora said.
Police have yet to determine the motive and identify a person of interest in the killing.
Investigators are looking into personal grudges or robbery as possible motives.
Minor’s daughter said her father usually carried a belt bag and a caliber .45 pistol while on duty.
However, police found no bag or firearm at the scene.
The victim’s family said he had no known enemies.
Neighbors described Minor as a man of good character.
