Carcar barangay chief shot dead

CEBU, Philippines - A 45-year-old barangay captain of Ocaña, Carcar City was shot and killed by unidentified assailants about 150 meters away from his house in Sitio Bacsije a few minutes past midnight yesterday.

Jose Diac Husain, single, died on the spot after sustaining several gunshot wounds in different parts of his body.

Around 12:15 a.m., Husain was driving his multicab on his way home from the barangay hall when, upon reaching the said place, unidentified motorcycle-riding men allegedly overtook and shot him several times.

Husain sustained gunshot wound to his body, breast and right armpit.

Insp. Socrates Medillo, one of the responding officers from Carcar City police, said that there were three bystanders who saw the incident and immediately informed a barangay councilman who lives not far from the crime scene.

Medillo and his men saw Husain’s body bathed in his own blood inside his driven multicab.

Police officers recovered seven empty shells and three slugs of caliber .45 pistol and one empty shell of .38 caliber revolver from the crime scene.

Medillo said that Husain was elected as number one councilor of Ocaña in 2007 but he became barangay captain after the former barangay chief, Milo Bayawac, left the country.

Police said that based on the account of witnesses, the assailants could be composed of two to three persons. The people who are living near the crime scene said they heard the bursts of gunfire in the middle of the night.

For his part, Sr. Supt. Erson Digal, director of Cebu Provincial Police Office, has already instructed Supt. Renato Malazarte, Carcar City police chief, to fast track the investigation.

Digal also ordered the chief of the Provincial Investigation Detective Management Branch to assist the Carcar City police in solving the case. Initially, Digal said they are looking at least three angles as possible motive of the crime.

First, he said they received reports that there were people who got mad on Husain who allegedly did not give the money that were intended for the voters during the May 10 elections.

Second, Husain was allegedly an active informant of the authorities by giving them information on persons involved in the illegal drug trade.

Lastly, Digal said the motive might also have something to do personal as Husain has a child with a woman but “did not take the responsibility as a father.”   (FREEMAN NEWS)