BY GILBERT P. BAYORAN
Three unidentified gunmen yesterday shot and killed a former policeman being classified by his former colleagues as a High Value Individual (HVI) in their anti-drug campaign, at Purok 2 in Brgy. Linaon, Cauayan, Negros Occidental.
The victim was identified by the Cauayan police as Vincent Decena, 54, a former policeman with a pending case for violation of RA 9165, known as the Comprehensive Dangerous Drug Act of 2002.
PMaj. Anthony Grande, Cauayan police chief, disclosed that Decena went on AWOL (absent without leave) from the police service in 2018.
Initial police investigations showed that Decena was drinking coffee, when three unidentified suspects, each wearing a bonnet, cap and face mask, entered the Adelfa coffee shop, and shot him from behind.
The gunmen reportedly took turns shooting the victim, who succumbed to multiple gunshot wounds, a report from the Cauayan police said.
The suspects reportedly fled on board a gray van, going towards the Cauayan town poblacion.
Recovered from the scene of incident were empty.45 caliber pistol shells.
FARMER SHOT DEAD
Elsewhere yesterday, six unidentified armed men shot a farmer dead in Sitio Lacanon 1 Brgy. Libertad, Escalante City, Negros Occidental.
The victim was identified by the Escalante City police as Hadjen Casipong, 41, of Sitio Sampinit in the same barangay.
Police investigations show that the victim was cultivating his planted sugarcane when an armed group of men arrived and shot him several times. He succumbed to multiple gunshot wounds,
Recovered from the scene of incident were fired caliber .45 cartridges and three empty shells of an AK-47 assault rifle.
The armed group was reported to have withdrawn towards the mountainous area of the barangay.*
