Councilor, 2 others killed

From the Visayan Daily Star (Sep 16): Councilor, 2 others killed

A councilor of Salvador Benedicto town and his live-in partner were killed, even as she begged for his life, by unidentified armed men in Barangay Lopez Jaena, Murcia town, Negros Occidental, 9:30 a.m. yesterday.

Also killed was Bacordo's alleged bodyguard who is a job order employee of the Salvador Benedicto municipal government.

Senior Inspector Ronald Santillan, Murcia police officer-in-charge , identified the victims as Salvador Benedicto Councilor Eden Bacordo, 39, his alleged live-in-partner Lea May Saldua, 39, and Arnold Larida.

Bacordo had built a makeshift house with his live-in-partner in Barangay Lopez Jaena, Murcia, that they visited from time to time, he added.

The house is accessible through a narrow road where Bacordo was walking at 9:30 a.m. yesterday, when he was fired at. Although injured, he was able run back to the house, Santillan said.

At their makeshift house, Saldua reportedly tried to shield him from the attackers and begged for his life.

However, the attackers also fired at her and Larida, and finished Bacordo off, Santillan said.

They all sustained multiple gunshot wounds, he added.

The attack was perpetrated by four armed men with M-16 armalite and M-1 Garand rifles, and light weapons, while two others served as lookouts, Santillan said.

Thirty-four empty shells of M-16 and M-1 Garand rifles were found at the scene of the crime, he added.

Bacordo was among the 11 suspects charged for murder, in connection with the death of Charlie Boli-Boli, a leader of the Revolutionary Proletarian Army-Alex Boncayao Brigade, on July 8 in Brgy. Bago, Salvador Benedicto town.

Before his death, Bacordo submitted his counter-affidavits before the Negros Occidental Provincial Prosecutor's Office, to the charges against him, a DAILY STAR source said.

But the killing of Boli-Boli was claimed by the NPA Roselyn Pelle Command in a statement to the local media.

Willy Bacordo said in a radio interview yesterday that his cousin Eden told him that he had no participation whatsoever in the murder case, and he has many witnesses to back up his claims.

Santillan said they will look into the murder of Boli-Boli and the relationship of Saldua to Bacordo as among the possible motives in the killing of the three victims.

Bacordo is the son of former rebel leader Vicente “Oti” Bacordo, who is now the barangay captain of Bagong Silang in Salvador Benedicto.

Larida and Bacordo are residents of Barangay Bagong Silang, and Saldua of Barangay Bago, both in Salvador Benedicto.

http://www.visayandailystar.com/2017/September/16/topstory1.htm