By Glazyl Y. Masculino
BACOLOD City – Four shooting incidents occurred in Negros provinces last Sunday, claiming three lives and injuring three others.
In Negros Oriental, “drug surrenderer” Patrick Manuel Romero, 31, was gunned down while his live-in partner Rhea Lou Pagador, 29 was wounded after they were shot by two unidentified motorcycle-riding assailants in Bais City.
Police recovered from the scene an unfired bullet, seven spent cartridges, and a deformed slug of .45 caliber ammunition.
Based on a report from the Negros Oriental Police Provincial Office (Norppo), Romero was the target of the gun attack.
Pagador suffered a gunshot wound in the right elbow and was taken to a hospital.
In Negros Occidental, Bonifacio Bargamento, 47, was shot dead while Roel Geno, 48, was injured after they were attacked by five unidentified men in Barangay Macasilao, Calatrava town.
Police investigation showed that the victims and other individuals were secretly engaging in cockfighting near the riverbank when the perpetrators armed with .45 caliber pistols arrived and shot Bargamento at close range.
Bargamento died on the spot due to gunshot wounds to his head while Geno, who was hit by a stray bullet, was taken to a hospital.
In Silay City, John Dee Dumalaog, 29, of Barangay Mambulac died after he was shot by an unidentified man at the said village.
Police said Dumalaog, who was reportedly drunk, was left by his two companions to buy a bottle of liquor when they heard two gunshots.
When they returned, they saw the wounded Dumalaog and rushed him to a hospital, where he was declared dead.
In Himamaylan City, Fernando Bendol, 31, was wounded after he was allegedly shot by 44-year-old Venerando Tabotabo at Barangay Tooy.
Tabotabo, according to the police, became unruly as he was observed to be drunk, based on the statements of witnesses.
The victim went to the suspect, but the latter allegedly shot his left leg for still unknown cause. The suspect fled while the victim was taken to a hospital.
Police recovered from the scene a bullet casing.
