Police: 4 killed in Negros barangay hall shooting

Four people were killed while three others were critically wounded Sunday after a former barangay (village) chief allegedly went on a shooting rampage inside a barangay hall in Negros Occidental province, police said. Former barangay captain Noel Ayalin allegedly stormed a village council session and shot dead four incumbent officials of Barangay Kapitan Roman in Silay City at 9 a.m., Senior Superintendent Allan Guisihan of the Negros Occidental Provincial Police Office said. The suspect, however, managed to escape using a motorcycle after the shooting incident and remains at large as of posting time, he added. Guisihan identified the fatalities as Sangguniang Kabataan (SK) chairperson Aimee Occena, and barangay councilmen Pedrito Orocio, Luzviminda Cotamen and Freddie Juno. Those critically hurt were incumbent barangay captain Ramon Celebre, village treasurer Lenny Llorca and barangay councilman Salvacion Corogda. Guisihan said local cops are eyeing politics as the motive for the shooting as the incumbent barangay officials wanted Ayalin, who lost his reelection bid last October, to answer certain issues regarding the use of funds during his administration. “Based sa affidavits nung ilang witnesses ay mukhang ‘yung dating kapitan ay merong ilang accountabilities daw na gustong malaman nung incumbent," he said. Superintendent Ranulfo Demiar, spokesperson of the Western Visayas Regional Police, confirmed that among the topics supposed to be discussed during the session was the use of funds during Ayalin’s term. “Pinag-eexplain itong ex-chairman. Pinapa-liquidate ang funds ng administration niya," he said. Local policemen have already recovered Ayalin’s motorcycle and are currently conducting pursuit operations to arrest the suspect, Demiar said. — KBK, GMA News