By Glazyl M. Jopson
BACOLOD CITY – Police are investigating insurgency, personal grudges, or mistaken identity as potential motives behind a shooting in Barangay Inayawan, Cauayan, Negros Occidental, that left one man dead and his brother injured last Wednesday.
The fatality was identified as Alex, while his injured older brother, Gerald, 40, was believed to be the intended target.
According to Police Lt. Col. Lowell Garinganao, head of the Cauayan Police, Gerald was ambushed by four unidentified individuals while heading home from a fiesta at around 11:30 p.m.
Gerald, who was riding a motorcycle driven by a companion, was fired upon during the attack. His companion escaped unharmed, while Gerald sustained a gunshot wound to the chest but managed to flee to his house.
The suspects reportedly pursued Gerald to his home and mistakenly shot Alex, who was sleeping in a dark room, possibly confusing him for Gerald. The perpetrators, armed with .45 caliber firearms, fired multiple shots before fleeing the scene.
Alex died from multiple gunshot wounds. Gerald, who hid at the back of the house, is now recovering in a local hospital, Garinganao said.
The incident was reported to authorities on Thursday morning.
Garinganao noted that the area has a history of insurgent activity, with prior encounters reported nearby.
However, he clarified that both Gerald and Alex had no criminal records or reported conflicts. He added that Alex had recently returned from Manila.
The police are still determining the reason Gerald was targeted and have identified persons of interest in the case. The investigation is ongoing.
