Ex-barangay chief kills 4, hurts 3

MANILA, Philippines - Unable to explain P1 million in missing barangay funds, a former village chief went on a shooting rampage in a barangay hall in Silay City, Negros Occidental yesterday, killing four officials and wounding three others.

Chief Superintendent Cipriano Querol Jr., Western Visayas police director, ordered a massive manhunt for the suspect, Noel Ayalin, alias Kalbo, who brought along the gun he used in the killing.

Querol directed Senior Superintendent Allan Guisihan, Negros Occidental police director, to create Task Force Manhunt Ayalin to go after the suspect who could be hiding with his relatives in Victorias town.

“We should not leave any stone unturned to speedily resolve the case and bring justice to the families of the victims. Let us exhaust all means to arrest the suspect,” said Querol in his directive to Guisihan.

Querol tasked Senior Superintendent Armando Tu­bong­banwa to head the task force with elements of the Silay police, Criminal Investigation and Detective Team, Regional Public Safety Battalion, Highway Patrol Group, and Negros Occidental police safety company as members.

Killed on the spot were Pedrito Orocino, 52; Luzvinda Cotamen, 45, and Freddie Juno, 58, all councilmen of Barangay Kapitan Ramon in Silay City; and Aimee Occena, chairwoman of the Sangguniang Kabataan.

Being treated for gunshot wounds in a hospital in Bacolod City were barangay chairman Ramon Celebre, councilwoman Salvacion Corogada, and secretary Lenny Llorca.

Reports said Ayalin attended a session at the barangay hall at around 8 a.m. yesterday as he was summoned to explain P1 million in unliquidated funds during his term.

Celebre defeated Ayalin in the last barangay elections.

Ayalin, according to witnesses, exchanged heated words with the incumbent officials, as he could not produce documentary evidence to prove that the money went to a number of barangay projects that he had initiated.

At the height of the verbal tussle, Ayalin reportedly left the barangay hall. He, however, returned an hour later and without a word, took out his caliber .45 automatic pistol and started shooting at the incumbent barangay officials.

Querol said Ayalin escaped on board a black-red Honda Wave motorcycle, which was found hours later in nearby Barangay Imbang.

Responding policemen recovered eight empty shells and five slugs for caliber .45 at the crime scene.

Querol ordered round-the-clock security in the hospital for the three wounded barangay officials.