NegOr lawyer dies after gun attack

Personnel of the Scene of the Crime Operatives (SOCO) probe the area where a lawyer was shot by motorcycle-riding assailants in Dumaguete City, Negros Oriental. (Photo courtesy of Negros Oriental Police Provincial Office)

By Glazyl Y. Masculino

BACOLOD City – A lawyer died 10 days after he was shot in Dumaguete City, Negros Oriental on January 3.

Police Colonel Julian Entoma, director of Negros Oriental Police Provincial Office (Norppo), confirmed on Tuesday the death of Atty. Ray Moncada, 74.

Citing medical records, Entoma said Moncada died around 2:27 p.m. last Monday due to “septic shock secondary to generalized peritonitis” caused by multiple gunshot wounds to his abdomen.

Moncada was shot by two unidentified men on a motorcycle in front of his house on January 3.

The assailants who were wearing jackets and helmets reportedly left a letter threatening the lawyer, before they fled.

Authorities recovered from the scene five fired bullets of .45 caliber ammunition and a deformed slug.

Entoma said he created a Special Investigation Task Group (SITG) on Tuesday to focus on the investigation.

He said they will convene on Thursday to check the development of the case.

Earlier, police are looking closely into work-related because the victim has been handling land dispute cases of some big clients.

Entoma said they are focusing on the land dispute cases of the lawyer for now as there has been no other angles seen that could trigger the killing.

We will check who possibly hired the gunmen to commit the crime, he added.