BACOLOD CITY – A village councilor and a curfew violator were killed while four barangay watchmen or “tanods” were wounded after they were shot by another curfew violator in a checkpoint in Barangay Minoyan, Murcia, Negros Occidental last Thursday.
Police identified the fatalities as Barangay Minoyan Councilor Rex Dalmacio, a retired soldier; and curfew violator Joenel Cardinal, 32, of Barangay Canlandog, Murcia.
Wounded were tanods Romeo Canoy, 44; Samuel Ciocon,59; Rommel Udani, 39; and Alex Losorio, 59. They were admitted to a hospital.
Police Major Robert Dejucos, town police chief, said that Dalmacio and the four watchmen were manning a checkpoint under the enhanced community quarantine when they flagged down a motorcycle driven by Cardinal, with his companion, Alfredo Agustin Jr., 38, of Barangay Canlandog, Murcia.
The town is implementing a curfew starting from 10 p.m. until 4 a.m. the following day as part of preventive measures against the COVID-19 pandemic.
Dejucos said that the suspects came from Bago City and were on their way home when they were flagged down at around 11:40 p.m.
He said that Agustin disembarked from the motorcycle when he was approached by the watchmen. The watchmen told him that they will be brought to the police station for violating the curfew hours, but Agustin resisted, and a commotion ensued, he added.
Dejucos said that Agustin allegedly drew his firearm, but he was subdued by Dalmacio, resulting into a scuffle.
Dalmacio was hit during the scuffle and fell on the ground. Agustin also fired his gun against the watchmen as he was thinking that he might be mobbed, the town police chief said.
When Dalmacio saw Agustin pointing his gun to the watchmen, the wounded barangay official stood up and tried to steal the gun, but a gunfire followed, killing Cardinal, Dejucos said.
Dalmacio and Agustin scuffled again with the gun until a gunfire was heard. The barangay official was again hit, which caused his immediate death, Decujos added.
Agustin fled but he was later arrested in pursuit operation the following day. He was also wounded, with a gunshot wound on the leg, when police brought him to the police station. (Glazyl Masculino)
