By Glazyl Y. Masculino
BACOLOD CITY – Police are investigating the motive behind the daylight killing of a former barangay councilor in Zone 1, Barangay Handumanan, on Monday.
The victim was identified as 62-year-old Henry Salbibia of Barangay Blumentritt, Murcia, Negros Occidental, who worked as a caretaker for a local non-government organization (NGO).
Police Captain Sherwin Galupar, head of Police Station 10, said Salbibia was riding his motorcycle around 11:50 a.m., after having coffee with a colleague, when an unidentified person on another motorcycle began following him.
The lone suspect then overtook Salbibia and shot him in the head, causing his immediate death, according to Galupar, who cited closed-circuit television (CCTV) footage.
The gunman, who wore a jacket and helmet, fled the scene immediately.
Galupar noted that Salbibia would regularly check on the NGO property in Barangay Handumanan.
Police recovered a spent shell from an unidentified firearm at the scene.
Nearby police officers on a visibility patrol responded to a call for assistance and attempted to chase the suspect but were unsuccessful.
Galupar said Salbibia had run for reelection in the 2023 Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan Elections (BSKE) in Barangay Blumentritt but lost. However, police are not considering the incident politically motivated at this time.
Police have identified a person of interest and are gathering additional information to establish the motive.
“We are conducting a thorough investigation to resolve the case,” Galupar said.
