By Glazyl Y. Masculino
BACOLOD City – A gardener working for a resort was killed by two men at Barangay Cabatangan, Talisay City, Negros Occidental last Sunday.
The victim was identified by the police as Rogelio Ducay, a native of Victorias City.
Master Sergeant Michael Mcdowell, chief investigator of Talisay City Police Station, said Ducay was hacked and shot to death by a security guard of the adjacent resort.
The victim was resting inside his nipa hut when the suspect, who was later identified as Cirilo Salapa, allegedly attacked him with a gun and a cane cutter, Mcdowell said.
Mcdowell said Salapa’s nephew Rogelio Armamento, who is the victim’s co-worker, served as lookout.
Mcdowell said the victim suffered a hack wound in his neck and head injuries. He was dragged from his nipa hut to a vacant lot, where he was found unconscious.
He was rushed to a hospital where he was pronounced dead.
Police recovered from the scene a cane cutter, three empty shells and a slug of unknown caliber, two bloodstained clothes, and a motorcycle.
When police responded, they met a man on board a motorcycle in the area. They confronted him but he suddenly jumped off the cliff, leaving his motorcycle behind.
Mcdowell said they could not yet determine if the man was one of the two suspects in the crime.
He said police are eyeing competition at work as possible motive.
“Daw ga hisa-hisa sa victim asta nag dumot na,” he added.
Mcdowell said the suspects were identified through a witness. He said pursuit operation is ongoing for the arrest of the two suspects who will be facing murder charges.
