Shooting rampage during barangay session: 4 officials killed, 3 others injured

CEBU, Philippines - Four village officials died and three others were wounded after a former barangay chairman went on a shooting rampage during a session at the barangay hall of the hinterland village of Kapitan Ramon in Silay City, Negros Occidental Saturday morning.

Police report identified the fatalities as Brgy. Councilmen Freddie Juno, 58, Luzviminda Cotamen, 45, Pedrito Orocino, 52, and Aimee Occeña, 16, the Sangguniang Kabataan chairman

Wounded were Brgy. Chairman Ramon Celebre, Councilman Salvacion Corogada, and barangay treasurer Lenny Lorca. They are now under treatment at a hospital in Bacolod City.

The suspect Noel Ayalin, alias Kalbo, fled and now remains at large while the Silay City Police distributed his photo to the public and the media.

Prior to the incident, Ayalin was invited to attend the session that started at 8 a.m. to let him explain the unliquidated P1 million barangay fund during his term as barangay chair.

The apparent attribution that he pocketed the money could have angered Ayalin. While being grilled, he immediately left the session. He returned an hour later and, using his .45 caliber pistol, started firing shots at the barangay officials who were still in session.

Immediately after the shooting binge, Ayalin fled on board a red and black Honda Wave motorcycle, which was later found abandoned in Brgy. Imbang in Silay City.

Responding policemen recovered from the crime scene eight empty shells and five slugs of a .45 caliber gun.

Chief Supt. Cipriano Querol, Jr., director of the Police Regional Office-6, ordered a relentless operation to arrest Ayalin.

The Negros Occidental Police Provincial Office (NOPPO) also created the Task Force Manhunt Ayalin, led by Senior Supt. Tubongbanua, officer-in-charge of the Negros Occidental Provincial Public Safety Company (NOPPSC).

The task force will be operating with NOPPSC, Silay City Police Station, one platoon from the Regional Public Safety Battalion, Criminal Investigation and Detection Team (CIDT), and the Highway Patrol Group.

Silay Police desk officer, PO2 Renato Bernel, yesterday afternoon said they got information that Ayalin was spotted in a barangay in the city.

Bernel said Brgy. Chairperson Judith Gallego of Patag, also in Silay, was able to communicate with Ayalin through the latter's cellphone, saying that he would never surrender and would kill himself instead if arrested.

Bernel further said that Occeña, one of the killed victims, was a niece of the suspect. There was also information that Councilman Joey Andrade, who survived when he went out for a softdrink when the incident happened, will be investigated along with Councilman Noli Flores, half brother of the suspect.