• THERESA MAE DULMAN
A tricycle driver was shot dead by unidentified suspects in Purok Laroca, Barangay Sta. Rosa, Murcia, Negros Occidental, at around 7:20 a.m. yesterday.
Murcia Municipal Police Station chief Capt. Honey Labaro identified the victim as 44-year-old Roger Bayotas alias ‘Abaw,’ a resident of the Purok Relocation, Brgy. Santa Rosa.
Initial investigation revealed that the victim was driving his tricycle toward his home when two suspects on a motorcycle approached him and opened fire multiple times, resulting in his death.
Barangay Sta. Rosa Chief Joel Pabello said that the victim was also the neighbor of Brgy. Official Joe Arnel Gawan, who was also killed last January 26.
Pabello added that the victim had just come from Lopez Jaena National High School after dropping off a student.
Labaro noted that investigators have yet to establish a motive for the killing, as a background check on the victim is still ongoing.
Jenebel Bayotas, the victim’s wife, believes that land dispute is the motive behind the killing.
Following the attack, the suspects fled toward the direction of Murcia proper.
The Murcia police are currently conducting a hot pursuit operation to track down and identify the perpetrators.*
