By GLAZYL MASCULINO
BACOLOD CITY – A police intelligence officer was gunned down by unidentified motorcycle-riding gunmen in front of the town mayor at the Reclamation area in Barangay 1-Poblacion, Pontevedra, Negros Occidental on Tuesday.
Killed was Staff Sgt. Ildefonso Casugod, 37, of Barangay Recreo. He was assigned to Pontevedra Municipal Police Station.
Capt. Hancel Lumandaz, town police chief, said Casugod was biking in the area when he saw Mayor Jose Maria Alonso and decided to approach and greet the mayor. However, one of the two perpetrators shot Casugod.
Lumandaz said the assailant, who was wearing a bonnet, then fled along with the motorcycle driver.
The victim was declared dead on arrival at a hospital while the mayor, along with his bodyguard, were unharmed.
Lumandaz said they are eyeing work-related as the possible motive behind the attack since the victim was tapped to hunt down drug personalities, wanted persons, gamblers, and other police operations.
“Pinalaliman pa namin kung ba’t nangyari ang insidente kasi mabait, and masipag naman siya,” he added.
Col. Romy Palgue, Negros Occidental police director, reminded policemen to be vigilant especially since the anniversary of the New People’s Army (NPA) will be on December 26.
Palgue said they are also looking into the possibility that Casugod might be a victim of a communist attack.
“Isa iyon sa tinitingnan natin. Marami pa tayong anggulo na tinitingnan, pero we cannot tell yet para hindi ma-hamper ang ating imbestigasyon,” Palgue said.
