Negros electric coop exec shot dead  

BACOLOD CITY, Philippines — The head of an electric cooperative in northern Negros was shot dead in Barangay 7 in this city on Tuesday.

Dan Pondevilla, 47, general manager of the Northern Negros Electric Cooperative, was in his parked Honda CRV when he was attacked. He died of a gunshot to the head.

The victim was shot when he opened the door of his car to spit, according to his companion.

A bullet shell for a caliber .45 pistol was recovered at the scene.

The companion of the victim was placed under police custody.

Pondevilla also served as acting manager of the Central Negros Electric Cooperative.

An investigation is underway.

Meanwhile, in Cotabato City, a division chief of the Ministry of Indigenous Peoples’ Affairs in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao was gunned down, also on Tuesday.

Jocelyn Palao, 52, died at the scene, according to Lt. Col. Carmelo Mungkas, spokesman for the Cotabato City police.

Palao and her two companions were in a minivan when she was shot by a motorcycle rider in Barangay Rosary Heights 11.

On Nov. 7, Rahib Payapat, a staff of the Bangsamoro Transition Authority, was wounded in a gun attack along Sinsuat Avenue.

Payapat’s attackers, Naif Kasim and Lakmudin Mohammad, were killed in an alleged shootout with responding policemen. –  John Unson