By EUGENE ADIONG
BACOLOD City — Salvador Benedicto Mayor Jose Max Ortiz claimed that armed men are creating a “culture of violence” in his town.
He believes that, by sowing violence and fear, the perpetrators “wanted to sabotage my administration.”
A kagawad (councilperson) in Brgy. Kumaliskis was shot by an unidentified suspect on Wednesday evening, Ortiz said.
Teresita Toreno sustained a gunshot wound in the back.
She was on her way home from the town proper with her daughter onboard a multi-cab driven by former barangay captain Juanito Pedrosa.
Toreno was rushed to a private hospital for treatment. Ortiz refused to disclose the hospital’s name to protect the victim.
The barangay kagawad’s daughter and Pedrosa were unharmed.
Ortiz said that, according to initial police investigation, a male gunman standing on the side of the street fired at the victim, who was at the front seat.
He said the police recovered from the area three of what appeared to be empty shells of a caliber .45 pistol.
Ortiz said this “culture of violence” in Salvador Benedicto had been ongoing for a long time already. “Residents close their houses as early as 6 o’clock in the evening for fear of armed men,” he said.
The armed men, Ortiz believes, intend to show that his administration is unable to ensure peace and order in Salvador Benedicto.
Ortiz said he will soon meet with residents and officials of Brgy. Kumaliskis to discuss the peace and order situation in the village./PN
