• THERESA MAE DULMAN
The family of a heavy equipment driver who was shot dead in Bacolod City on March 31 is calling for justice as the suspects remain at large, following the incident.
The victim, identified as Joevic Defante of Silay City, had intended to purchase items at Libertad Market and was heading for coffee at the corner of Mabini and Rosario Streets at approximately 1 a.m. when he was attacked.
The primary suspect, a fruit stand owner known by the alias ‘Bongbong,’ allegedly accused the victim of theft, though the victim’s family has dismissed these claims, stating that it would have been impossible for him to commit such an act.
Bacolod Police Officer-in-Charge PCol. Eugene Rebadomia clarified that the allegations remain unconfirmed assumptions.
According to Police Station 6 Commander Capt. Peter John Ramos, the suspect and two companions appeared intoxicated and were questioning bystanders when a verbal exchange occurred with the victim.
The suspects reportedly struck the victim on the head with a baseball bat, before the primary suspect fired multiple shots with a .45 caliber pistol.
The group fled the scene in a green vehicle and remains the subject of a police manhunt, with authorities preparing to file formal murder charges.*
