• GILBERT P. BAYORAN
A vendor was reported by the police to have drowned on Good Friday in Sipalay City, while two others died in separate shooting and stabbing incidents on Black Saturday in Talisay City and Binalbagan, respectively, in Negros Occidental.
The lifeless body of alias Requilme, a 54-year old-vendor, was found floating along the shoreline of Purok Guiwanon in Barangay 4, Sipalay City, on April 18.
Prior to the incident, the victim had been hospitalized at the Sipalay City infirmary due to excessive drinking and body tremors.
Based on the testimonies of his family members, the victim was observed to have been mentally unstable and hallucinating, police investigations further showed.
Meanwhile, a member of the Bantay Bukid is now subject of a manhunt operation by the police after he was linked to a gun incident on April 19 at Sitio Malasaga in Barangay Katilingban, Talisay City.
The suspect, identified only by the police as alias Judgie, allegedly shot and killed alias Arnold, a resident of Hacienda Hiyang-Hiyang of the barangay.
Based on the accounts of a witness, the victim and his brother were about to enter the entrance of Malasaga Falls when the shooting incident took place.
The victim succumbed to gunshot injuries in the right arm, right armpit, left chest, and back, while the suspect immediately escaped after the incident, according to the Talisay City police.
A Smith and Wesson caliber .22 firearm with five ammunition was recovered from the victim when his cadaver was initially examined by the police.
A farmer was found dead on Saturday at Sitio Alindasao in Barangay Bi-ao, Binalbagan.
The victim, who was identified by the police as alias Robert, 47, succumbed to multiple stab wounds.
The Binalbagan police have yet to establish the motive for the killing.*
