• GILBERT P. BAYORAN
The remains of a man believed to be a victim of ‘salvage’, or summary execution, was found in Brgy. Tortosa, Manapla, while a senior citizen was shot dead in Brgy. Rizal, San Carlos City, Negros Occidental, on July 1.
The salvage victim was described by the police as 35 to 40 years old, wearing a black sando and blue shorts, bearing a tattoo on his left arm with a name “Edgar Lusmenda”. He succumbed to gunshot wounds in the head.
He was hogtied, with packing tape on his mouth, according to initial investigations of the Manapla police.
Two empty shells of caliber .45 pistol and a placard with a message “Wag Tularan. Kawatan ako (do not imitate. I am a thief),” were recovered at the scene, which is about 80 meters from the Bannga Ibus national highway in Brgy. Tortosa, Manapla, Negros Occidental.
Meanwhile, an unidentified gunman shot and killed Romulo Villarico Sr., 66, in Brgy. Rizal, San Carlos City, also on Saturday.
Based on the testimonies of Julieta Villarico, wife of the victim, her husband went outside their residence after he was called by somebody. A commotion ensued, which later led to the shooting incident, police investigations showed.
Villarico was immediately brought to the San Carlos City Hospital, where he was declared dead on arrival, according to the police.
Recovered from the scene of incident were four empty shells of caliber .45 pistol, while the suspect was nowhere to be found when the police arrived.*
