BACOLOD CITY – A jail officer died while his cousin was wounded in an ambush in Purok Katipunan, Barangay Cabug, here, Friday.
Killed was JO1 Jayvee Jason Vargas, 28, a personnel of the Metro Bacolod District Jail in Barangay Handumanan, this city.
Wounded was Gian Philip Yoro, 25, of Barangay Handumanan.
Police Lt. Jonito Pastrana, head of the Police Station 9 here, said Vargas was driving a white Mitsubishi Strada on his way home after fetching his father, a retired jail officer, and his two other relatives from a cockpit in Barangay Pahanocoy when a blue Toyota Innova and two motorcycles tailed them at around 11:50 p.m.
The two motorcycles blocked his car while unidentified armed men disembarked from the Innova and fired their high-powered firearms at them, Pastrana said.
Vargas tried to maneuver the vehicle but another Toyota Hilux and motorcycle blocked them and more armed men fired their guns at them.
Vargas’ car swerved and hit a piggery, where his father and three relatives hid after jumping off the vehicle.
Vargas died on the spot due to head injuries while Yoro sustained a lone bullet wound in his back and minor bruises.
The two other passengers also sustained minor bruises.
Police recovered from the scene more than 70 fired bullets and 100 fired cartridges of M16, M14, .9mm caliber, and .45 caliber.
Pastrana said the recent attack against Vargas came six months after he was also ambushed by unidentified armed men at Bacolod Real Estate Development Corp. here.
The Bacolod Police Station 9 commander said the latest attack on Cargas was really planned, considering the number of armed men and firearms used in the crime.
“He (Vargas) was really being targeted to be killed,” he added.
He said the armed men were possibly members of an organized group or hired gunmen, but he cannot yet establish if somebody is really behind the attack because they have no lead yet on the identities of the perpetrators.
He said they are looking closely into drug-related since Vargas and his father were allegedly previously linked into illegal drug trade.
But we are also investigating if the killing has something to do with his work or personal life, he added.
He said Vargas was supposed to report for duty in Iloilo tomorrow. (Glazyl Masculino)