BY GILBERT P. BAYORAN
Two motorcycle-riding suspects yesterday shot and killed a retired police officer in Sitio Lumbia, Brgy. Binicuil, Kabankalan City, Negros Occidental.
The victim was identified by the Kabankalan City police as Reynaldo “Toto” Gasataya, 71, a retired police officer and a resident of Cauayan, Negros Occidental.
Initial police investigation showed that Gasataya was driving his Suzuki motorcycle when he was shot by two unidentified suspects, who were riding in a tricycle.
The victim was declared dead on arrival at the Kabankalan District Hospital due to multiple gunshot wounds, the police reported.
PLt. John Paul Tabujara, deputy police chief of Kabankalan City, yesterday said that the victim, who used to be assigned at the Cauayan Police Station and 2nd Provincial Mobile Group in Hinigaran while on active police service, was tailed by the two suspects who overtook his motorcycle and shot him.
Recovered from the scene of incident were six fired cartridges and a slug of a .45 caliber pistol and three empty shells of .30 caliber Carbine rifle.
Tabujara said they already have a person of interest as the face of the tricycle passenger was captured on CCTV footage, although they are still establishing his identity.
Based on their investigation and reports they have gathered, the shooting incident may have been triggered by a land conflict, Tabujara added.*
