The barangay captain of Kansumandig in La Libertad, Negros Oriental, was shot in a hinterland area of the town early Wednesday morning, Sept. 23, prompting police to create a special investigation task group to investigate the attack.
The Police Regional Office-Negros Island Region said the barangay captain was traveling home from Brgy. Pacuan aboard his motorcycle at around 5:20 a.m. when the incident occurred in Sitio Mabilog, Brgy. Kansumandig.
Nearby residents reportedly heard several gunshots and later found the barangay captain lying along the road, while the assailant or assailants had already fled.
The incident was reported to the La Libertad Municipal Police Station at around 5:50 a.m.
Police said the crime scene was about 30 kilometers into the hinterland.
Investigators recovered three empty .45-caliber shells, four slugs and a cellular phone during the initial examination of the crime scene.
PRO-NIR Regional Director Brig. Gen. Rudecindo Reales proceeded to the area and ordered the activation of a Special Investigation Task Group to coordinate the investigation and identify those responsible for the shooting.
Police are coordinating with the Scene of the Crime Operations team for further processing of the area and are interviewing potential witnesses.
Investigators are also looking for available closed-circuit television footage that could help trace the movements of the barangay captain and the assailants before and after the shooting.
The identity of the assailants and the motive for the attack have yet to be established.
PRO-NIR did not indicate the barangay captain’s name or condition following the shooting in its initial statement.
Police urged witnesses and persons with information about the incident to coordinate with the La Libertad Municipal Police Station or the investigating team.*
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