Ex-village chief, partner dead in shooting inside vehicle in Bacolod
INQUIRER FILE PHOTO
BACOLOD CITY — A former barangay captain and his live-in partner died in a shooting incident while on board a pickup in Bangga Tomaro, Barangay Sum-ag in this city.
The victims were identified as Federico Hilado Gayagas Jr., 53, a former barangay captain of Bagong in Bago City, Negros Occidental; and Carmelita Mojica Davila, 44, of Barangay Sum-ag, Bacolod City, said Police Capt. Andy Ofalia, head of Police Station 9.
Davila died on Friday night, March 7, and Gayagas on Saturday.
Ofalia said the witnesses thought the shooting was perpetrated by shooters on a motorcycle as gunshots were heard as a motorcycle passed by the white Nissan Navara, where the shooting occurred.
However, upon further investigation, it was learned that the shooting came from within the vehicle as the bullets exited from inside, Ofalia said.
He said Gayagas, who was driving the vehicle, and Davila, who was in the front passenger’s seat, were the only people on board.
Davila suffered a bullet wound on the left side of her body and hand, while Gayagas had a gunshot wound on the head.
He said a 9 mm pistol and fired slugs were recovered from the vehicle.
Also recovered from the vehicle was an M-16 rifle and a loaded M-203 grenade launcher, and ammunition, Ofalia said.
Police investigation showed that the couple had been fighting two days earlier.
“They were also allegedly fighting on Friday night, and Davila allegedly wanted Gayagas to leave,” Ofalia said.
Ofalia said they were waiting for the results of the ballistic and bullet trajectory examination to determine how the shooting occurred and who pulled the trigger.
