SAN JORGE, Samar (February 14, 2016) — As government authorities here are beefing up peace and security measures to avert further killings that placed the province in the COMELEC’s hot list relative to the upcoming May polls, another village chair was gunned down noon time yesterday by an unknown number of assailants who were boarded reportedly in a yet to be identified Van-type vehicle.
Police authorities of this town identified the victim as Romulo Barcoma, Barangay Chairman of Mabuhay, a village situated along the Maharlika Highway some 12 kilometers south of the town proper.
Initial report obtained by Aksyon Radyo Catbalogan from the town’s Police Chief PSInsp. Genaro Nabual, the victim reportedly was on his way home riding his motorcycle at around 12:10 lunchtime yesterday after an errand in the town proper, but upon reaching an isolated area of the highway within the vicinity of Barangay Rosalim, he was fired upon by his assailants which is believed to be following him from the town center aboard a van-type vehicle.
“The victim sustained multiple gunshot wounds in his body, which was the cause of his instantaneous death, and though we don’t have detailed information yet with regards to the identity of the van, our second team of investigators are still in the area to gather more information” Nabual said.
Aksyon Radyo Cagtbalogan likewise gathered that the SOCO from the Samar Police Provincial Office (SPPO) that processed the crime scene was able to gather 4 pieces of 5.56 caliber and 1 piece of .45 caliber fired shells, the bullets that are commonly used for M16 long rifles and 45 caliber pistol.
A niece of the victim who requested not to be named for security reasons informed that from what they gathered from nearby residents, the van-type vehicle used by the suspects also made a turn-around after the shooting and speed off towards the town center.
“No one however was able to describe the type of van and its body color, I don’t know why because there were some people who saw the incident, perhaps they are afraid to tell the authorities just yet” the victim’s niece said in vernacular.
She added that they cannot think of any motive of the killing because his uncle has no known personal enemies in and out of their village.
The body of the victim was brought to the Samar Provincial Hospital morgue for autopsy later yesterday. www.aksyonradyo.com
