By Glazyl Y. Masculino
BACOLOD City – The Talisay City Police are at an impasse over the fatal shooting of a government employee in Talisay City, Negros Occidental, which occurred yesterday.
Police Major Karena Onio, the deputy chief of the Talisay City Police Station, identified the victim as Mike Lumawag, 44, from Carmela Valley, Barangay Zone 12-A.
According to Onio, Lumawag had just returned home after dropping off his child at school around 7 a.m. Upon stepping out of his car, he was confronted and shot by an unidentified assailant.
Despite an attempt to escape, Lumawag was pursued by the gunman into the kitchen area of his home, where he was ultimately cornered and shot multiple times.
Police at the scene recovered six bullet casings from an undetermined firearm caliber.
Onio revealed that Lumawag worked in the Land Tax Division of the city government.
Interviews with the victim’s colleagues and neighbors indicated he had no known adversaries, although Onio mentioned that Lumawag tended to keep his personal life private from his family.
Investigators are considering whether the attack was connected to his work or if there may have been a personal motive.
Currently, no suspects have been identified, but Onio assured that the police are committed to continuing the investigation.
Efforts are being made to obtain footage from CCTV cameras in the vicinity that may have recorded the crime.
The mayor of Talisay City, Neil Lizares, expressed his sorrow over the tragedy.
“Today proves to be a sad day for our city hall employees. I was surprised to learn that one of our diligent workers was the victim of a shooting right outside his home,” Lizares said.
Lizares extended his deepest sympathies to Lumawag’s family and affirmed his support in their quest for justice. He condemned the shooting as a senseless act and insisted that such violence has no place in their society.
Lizares is confident that the police will resolve the incident swiftly and urges anyone with information to come forward to assist in the capture of those responsible.
Calling for increased vigilance, Lizares encouraged the community to cooperate in maintaining safety in Talisay.
