By Felipe V. Celino
ROXAS CITY, Capiz – A P200,000 cash reward awaits for anyone who can help solve the shooting of a barangay kagawad in Brgy. Pamalatican Sigma, Capiz last Sunday afternoon.
Authorities identified the victim as Kagawad Lamberto Fajartin whose nose was injured in the shooting.
Police Lt. Rey Jason Gimeno, chief of Sigma Municipal Police Station, said they are eyeing old grudges as motives for the incident after the victim received death threats lately.
It appears in the investigation that after the first quarter general assembly of the barangay, the village officials proceeded to the second floor of the barangay hall.
Punong Barangay Gilda Bignayan was surprised when two unidentified persons wearing face masks also went up and looked for Fajartin.
The lady village chief replied that Fajartin already went home.
But the two suspects ordered them to lay down on the floor, prompting Fajartin to approach them.
When the kagawad was about to talk to the suspects, one of them shot him on the nose.
The suspects fled onboard a motorcycle.
Police recovered from the crime scene an empty shell of .45 caliber ammunition.
Before the incident happened, the two suspects were seen outside the barangay hall and asked bystanders if Fajartin was in the area.
Retired police officer William Limjuco Jr. said that businessman Dante Eslabon offered the reward for anyone who could identify the suspects.
Limjuco, who claimed to be the spokesperson of the Dante Eslabon Foundation, said Eslabon and Fajartin are friends, thus the reward offer.
