2 village watchmen shot dead by 'NPA hit squad' in NegOr

From the Philippine News Agency (Jun 27, 2019): 2 village watchmen shot dead by 'NPA hit squad' in NegOr

Suspected communist New People’s Army (NPA) hitmen allegedly shot and killed on Thursday two barangay tanod (village watchmen) of Buenavista and T-Hill in Guihulngan City, northern Negros Oriental in separate incidents just hours apart.

The Negros Oriental Provincial Police Office (NOPPO) identified the victims as Lito Tabolong Itao, 49, chief tanod and resident of Sitio Culasi in Barangay Buenavista; and Ever Absin Pelenio, 57, a barangay tanod and resident of Sitio Kandaislan in Barangay T-Hill.

Initial police investigation disclosed that at around 10 a.m., three unidentified men approached and shot Pelenio who was then reading the Bible at the porch of his house.

The suspects were believed to be members of the NPA’s liquidation squad, the Special Partisan Unit (SPARU), the police said.

Pelenio was brought to the Guihulngan Hospital where he was declared dead on arrival.

Recovered from the crime scene were two fired cartridge cases of cal.45.

At around 3:45 p.m., Itao was shot by two unidentified motorcycle-riding suspects while he was sitting outside the store of Alvaro Estender, with his neighbors, Junior Abrea and Archie Estrao.

The backrider drew a gun and shot the victim several times, hitting him on different parts of the body.

The victim managed to run several meters before falling to the ground.

He was declared dead on arrival at the Guihulngan District Hospital.

Police recovered two fired cartridge cases of caliber .45 and a magazine with five ammunition of the same caliber from the scene of the crime.

No motive has yet been determined for the twin shooting incidents, the police said.

https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1073521