By Glazyl M. Jopson
BACOLOD CITY – Authorities are investigating the fatal shooting of a former policeman in Purok Michelle, Barangay Dulao, Bago City, Negros Occidental, on Thursday.
The victim was identified as Renaldo Bernel, a resident of Barangay Pacol.
Investigators said Bernel was heading toward Barangay Pacol after taking his child to school when five unidentified men ambushed him while he was riding his motorcycle at around 8:30 a.m.
Police recovered 16 fired cartridges of a 5.56mm caliber firearm, nine fired cartridges, a fired bullet, a live 9mm round, a handheld radio, and a cellphone from the scene.
Police Capt. Judesses Catalogo, public information officer of the Negros Occidental Police Provincial Office (NOCPPO), said Bernel was dismissed from the police force in 2016 for being absent without official leave (AWOL).
Catalogo added that Bernel was previously linked to a 2015 shooting incident in E.B. Magalona that resulted in the death of a policeman.
He was charged with murder, but the case was dismissed, according to police records.
The attack occurred exactly 10 years after the E.B. Magalona incident, but Catalogo said they could not confirm if the two cases were related.
Since Bernel was no longer in active service, the provincial police had not been monitoring his activities.
Catalogo said the attack might be connected to Bernel’s personal dealings or past transactions.
The Bago City Police Station is conducting a deeper investigation to determine the motive and identify the assailants.
Meanwhile, in Calatrava town, a 51-year-old farmer was shot and killed by two unidentified men in Barangay Dolis on Wednesday night.
Police said the victim was about to start his motorcycle, accompanied by his brother and helper, when the suspects approached and shot him five times with an unknown firearm.
The victim sustained gunshot wounds to the head, back, and right forearm.
Police recovered five fired cartridges, a fired bullet, and a deformed bullet from the crime scene.
