Trader shot dead in Bacolod

BACOLOD CITY, Philippines — A businessman and brother of a former councilor was shot dead by two motorcycle-riding assailants in this city yesterday.

Robert Tan, 70, brother of former Bacolod councilor Ricardo Tan, was on his way home in a Nissan Sentra when he was killed in Barangay Estefania.

Tan died from gunshot wounds in the head and body, according to Lt. Col. Ariel Pico, spokesman for the Bacolod City police.

Investigations showed the assailants overtook the victim’s car and shot him several times.

Probers recovered five bullet shells at the crime scene.

Police have yet to determine the motive for the killing, which happened almost a year after the former councilor and his wife survived an ambush in nearby Barangay Alangilan.

Meanwhile, a man believed to be a victim of extrajudicial killing was found at a sugarcane field in Murcia, Negros Occidental on Saturday.

The body was wrapped in duct tape and bore a gunshot to the head, according to Maj. Robert Dejucos, officer-in-charge of the Murcia police.

The victim was described to be in his 30s, had tattoos in the chest, arm and biceps and wearing a silver necklace, polo shirt and a pair of khaki shorts.

Police said the manner of the killing was similar to that of a drug surrenderee who was found dead in Barangay Mandalagan in Bacolod City on Dec. 2.

Probers expressed belief the perpetrators behind the two killings could be the same, although they have yet to coordinate with the Bacolod City police.

Dejucos said the victim could have been killed elsewhere and dumped in the area to mislead investigators.