Negros Oriental barangay chairman killed inside own office

DUMAGUETE CITY - Authorities are on a manhunt against three yet unidentified assassins who shot and killed a barangay chairman in Santa Catalina town, Negros Oriental Thursday morning.

Records from the Santa Catalina Police showed that the perpetrators shot Barangay San Pedro, Santa Catalina Chairman Samuel Ragay right inside his own office at around 10 a.m. Thursday.

Ragay is the second cousin of Negros Oriental Governor Roel Degamo, case investigator Police Corporal Mark Anthony Dicdican said.

Two others were wounded in the incident after they were hit by stray bullets: Barangay San Pedro treasurer Nenfa Herosa and another woman identified as Lorna Vingcoy.

Initial police investigation showed that the three victims were inside the San Pedro barangay hall when the assassins barged in, ordered them to drop down to the floor, then shot Ragay.

Ragay was rushed to a nearby hospital but he was declared dead on arrival.

Dicdican said he could not disclose further details on the motive and identity of the assassins as investigation is still ongoing.

Negros Oriental provincial government spokesperson Bimbo Miraflor said over the phone that Degamo went to Santa Catalina to check on the situation.

The governor has yet to issue a statement on his cousin's killing as of press time. — BAP, GMA News