Sugarcane planter robbed, shot dead

Police cordon the area in Barangay Robles, La Castellana, Negros Occidental where a sugarcane planter was robbed and shot dead by unidentified persons Friday. (Photo courtesy of La Castellana Municipal Police Station)

By Glazyl Y. Masculino

BACOLOD City – A sugarcane planter was robbed and killed in La Castellana, Negros Occidental yesterday.

Police Major Rhojn Darell Nigos, La Castellana town police chief, said Saturnino Suprales, 52, of Moises Padilla town, was riding his motorcycle when he was flagged down by three unidentified persons at Hacienda Taborda, Barangay Robles around 10:15 a.m. Friday.

Nigos said the perpetrators may have been tailing the victim up until the crime scene.

Suprales resisted his attackers in a fistfight until one of the suspects shot him.

Nigos said the suspects allegedly carted away more than P500,000 from the victim. They then fled on board a Toyota Innova.

Suprales suffered four gunshot wounds in the body and was declared dead on arrival at a hospital.

Nigos said they’re trying to find out if the victim’s workers have involvement in the incident since they are the ones who knew that the victim came from the sugarcane mill to get his income.

Police are also checking if the perpetrators rented the vehicle.