BY ADRIAN P. NEMES III
Unidentified suspects shot and killed a man who just celebrated his birthday in Brgy. Handumanan, Bacolod City at about 7:40 p.m. Thursday for still unknown reason.
Station 10 commander P/Captain Armilyn Vargas identified the victim as Jose Estaniel, 55, of Purok Saturn, Brgy. Handumanan.
Vargas said Estaniel succumbed to gunshot wounds on his chest and stomach while being treated at the Bacolod Adventist Medical Center.
Investigation showed that Estaniel was talking to his sister-in-law outside their house after his birthday celebration and the christening of his child, when three to four men passed by and one of them shot him.
A witness claimed that the gunman had a facemask and was wearing a jacket while two of his companions were carrying a sack. The witness also said that the suspects rode a red sports utility vehicle believed to be Toyota Avanza.
Four fired cartridge cases of still unknown firearm were recovered from the crime scene, police records showed.
The police is now establishing the link of Estaniel to the Epogon group, that is reportedly responsible for robbery and hold-up incidents in several areas in Negros Occidental and neighboring areas, although the victim has no records in Police Station 10.*
