BY DOMINIQUE GABRIEL BAÑAGA
BACOLOD City – A Belgian national was killed by at least four unidentified armed robbers in a home invasion at Villa Angela Subdivision, Barangay Villamonte early yesterday morning.
Police identified the fatality as 76-year-old Carl Nolens, a resident of the village.
Nolens’ wife, meanwhile, was injured after jumping from the second floor of their home in an attempt to escape the robbers.
Five other people, including the victims’ in-law, escaped unharmed.
Police Station 4 commander, Police Major Charles Gever, said the four suspects gained entry into the foreigner’s home by destroying the grills of the perimeter wall, citing initial investigation.
The suspects then climbed up into the balcony and destroyed the sliding door.
Once inside the suspects, Gever said the burglars forcibly took the bag owned by the victim’s wife containing an undetermined amount of cash and jewelry.
However, Nolens resisted against the suspects and he was shot in the stomach using an M16 assault rifle, while Nolens’ wife managed to jump off the balcony. The suspects then proceeded to the victim’s in-law and servants, hogtied them and fled.
Nolens and his wife were rushed to the Metro Bacolod Hospital and Medical Center, where the hospital staff declared the victim “dead on arrival.”
A further probe of the incident also revealed that prior to the attack, the suspects also attempted to burglarize another house near the victim’s home, although they were thwarted because of the presence of guard dogs roaming around the compound.
The suspects reportedly threw a head of a chicken containing poison, killing three of the guard dogs in the process.
Gever said they already have several persons of interest in the crime and are presently conducting hot-pursuit operations against them.
Meanwhile, Bacolod City Police Office (BCPO) reports that the incident may be connected to the other string of robbery incidents which took place recently.
BCPO spokesperson Police Lieutenant Colonel Ariel Pico said previously a house located in Eroreco Subdivision in Barangay Mandalagan was also forcibly entered by armed robbers.
Pico said it is also possible that the robbers are the same individuals who struck several homes in the city during the enhanced community quarantine period.
He added they are also probing if the suspects are members of an organized crime group operating in the city and nearby areas in Negros Occidental.
City police director Colonel Henry Biñas has also received orders from Bacolod City Mayor Evelio Leonardia to investigate the incident and pursue the suspects.
Biñas said he has already tapped the assistance of the Regional Intelligence Unit, Regional Drug Enforcement Unit and the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group for the speedy resolution of the case.
He further added he received orders from Leonardia to intensify the deployment of police officers in the city to prevent similar cases from happening./PN
