• GILBERT P. BAYORAN
A barangay captain and four barangay tanods were tagged as suspects in a mauling incident on Tuesday at Purok 2, Barangay Culipapa, Hinoba-an Negros Occidental.
The victim was reported by the Hinobaan police as a 65-year-old resident of the barangay.
Investigations of the Hinobaan police indicated that the victim was fetched from his residence by alias Kap, 61, the Culipapa barangay chairman, and other barangay tanod members, identified as having aliases of Gimo, Ron, Ramel, and Lan.
As he was forced to enter barangay hall of Culipapa, the victim was hit with a piece of wood, allegedly by alias Ron, and then he was mauled by other barangay tanod members, according to the police.
Alias Kap also hit the victim twice in the stomach, while threatening to kill him if he does not leave Barangay Culipapa, the investigation of the Hinobaan police further indicated.
The victim, who was later released by the suspects, sought the help of his friend. When Hinobaan policemen arrived at the scene of the incident to conduct an investigation, the suspects were already nowhere to be found, either in their respective homes, or at the barangay hall.
The victim was brought by the police to the Eleuterio Decena Memorial Hospital, and was later released after undergoing treatment.
The motive of the incident is still being investigated by the Hinobaan Police Station.*
