• RICHARD T. CABALLERO JR.
A 34-year-old purok chairman in Cauayan, Negros Occidental, was shot dead by five unidentified persons at around 6:30 p.m. on Tuesday at the mountainous area of Sitio Mana-uban, Purok 5, Barangay Lina-on.
The victim was identified as Maricel Pantajo, a purok chairman of the village.
Initial investigation by the Cauayan Municipal Police Station revealed that five suspects, all armed with long firearms, arrived in front of the house of the victim.
The suspects instructed the family members to go inside the house. They were having a conversation with the victim when she was suddenly shot multiple times, hitting different parts of her body, causing her death.
After the incident, suspects reportedly left the scene, leaving the victim lifeless and the family in fear.
The police recovered at least 5 slugs and cartridges of 5.56 mm and 7.62 mm rifles used in the crime.
The cadaver of the victim was brought to Cauayan District Hospital, where she was pronounced dead on arrival by Dr. Ma. Luisa Zamora.
The authorities immediately conducted a thorough investigation for the possible identification and arrest of the suspects, as the motive of the crime was still undetermined.*
