Barangay councilor in Negros town gunned down in front of family

From the Manila Bulletin (Feb 23, 2023): Barangay councilor in Negros town gunned down in front of family (By Glazyl Masculino)

BACOLOD CITY – A barangay official was shot dead by unidentified persons in front of his family in Barangay Cambayobo, Calatrava, Negros Occidental on Wednesday, Feb. 22.

The victim was identified as Barangay Cambayobo Kagawad Benito Hubahib.

Capt. Jesus Alba, deputy chief of Calatrava Municipal Police Station, said three unidentified armed persons introduced themselves as authorities when they went to Hubahib’s house.

The perpetrators then asked for his identification card, but when he refused, he was shot.

Police recovered from the crime scene a fired cartridge of .45 caliber firearm, and three fired bullets of an M16 rifle.

Alba said they do not discount the possibility that the incident may be insurgency-related, since Hubahib was active in the campaign of the government against insurgency.

Hubahib also served as witness in the marking of evidence during the arrest of a high-ranking official of the New People’s Army (NPA) in the town last month, according to Alba.

Alba said they are also probing the possible link of this incident to the case of farmer Arnie Casipong, 40, who was gunned down in Barangay Minautok on Monday, Feb. 20.

Alba said the manner of the two killings were similar, as Casipong’s death was also witnessed by his family at their house.

Alba said the two villages have reported sightings of unidentified armed men.

Caption:

The Scene of the Crime Operatives (SOCO) check the body of a barangay official who was shot dead by unidentified armed persons at his house in Barangay Cambayobo, Calatrava, Negros Occidental on Wednesday, Feb. 22. (Photo courtesy of Calatrava Municipal Police Station)

https://mb.com.ph/2023/02/23/barangay-councilor-in-negros-town-gunned-down-in-front-of-family/