Sangguniang Bayan Member Jolomar Hilario of Moises Padilla town who was killed by communist rebels early yesterday morning had been getting threats from the New People’s Army (NPA).
Councilor Agustin “Nene” Grande told Negros Daily Bulletin (NDB).
Agustin also said that the suspects, who barged into the house of his 46-year-old fellow councilor and shot him dead, were shouting while withdrawing from the house that they are NPAs.
SB Grande, who is also running for reelection in the May polls under reelectionist Mayor Magdaleno “Magsie” Peña together with Hilario, said the rebels were also behind the killing of his brother Magdaleno “Nonong” Grande in May, 2016.
At past 6 o’clock yesterday morning, several armed men reportedly on board three trucks, entered SB Hilario’s residence in Barangay Inolingan, Moises Padilla (Magallon) and killed him.
They reportedly used trucks to block the road leading to the councilor’s house.
Military and police operatives are on hot pursuit while investigations are also ongoing.
HIS WIFE IS BRGY. CAPTAIN.
SB member Hilario was reportedly asleep when the armed men ransacked his house, barged into his room and peppered him with bullets.
Hilario is the first casualty in Negros Occidental after the start of the campaign for local candidates.
His wife Michelle, the incumbent barangay captain, and their children were unharmed.
Jolomar died on the spot from multiple gunshot wounds.
The victim was former barangay captain of Inolingan before he ran for councilor in 2013 and was also an ABC president.* (Arman P. Toga, NDB)