THE peaceful climate that usually characterized the annual commemoration of All Saints’ Day in Misamis Oriental got smeared with last Wednesday's shooting of a Civilian Auxiliary Forces Geographical Unit (Cafgu) member.
In a radio interview, Lagonglong municipal police precinct chief Silverio Espiritu identified the victim as Johnny Aboc Remonde, a Cafgu member whose unit was assigned under the 23rd Infantry Battalion in Barangay Umagos, Lagonglong town in Misamis Oriental.
Remonde was said to have been shot at the poultry farm in his home in Barangay Banglay, Lagonglong town in Misamis Oriental at 10:45 p.m. of October 31 by still unidentified gunmen.
Espiritu said several theories were being looked into by the police concerning the shooting, among them a rumor that the victim's wife reportedly threatened to have him killed by communist New People's Army (NPA) rebels.
"Allegedly ang asawa nag-sulti nga ipapatyon daw siya sa NPA kung biyaan siya (The wife's victim allegedly threatened to have him killed by the NPA should he leave her)," Espiritu said.
According to Espiritu, another theory stemmed from the victim's reported vow "not to be taken alive" following his loss at the recent barangay elections in Banglay, where he supposedly ran for barangay chairman.
Details about the victim's current condition and what hospital was taken to following the shooting were unavailable as of Thursday.
Sun.Star Cagayan de Oro was unable to contact the Fourth Infantry Division Thursday for information concerning the incident.
Lagonglong is one of several Misamis Oriental towns plagued by the presence of communist NPA rebels along with the towns of Balingasag and Salay and Gingoog City.
Previously, Police Provincial Director Danilo Pelisco said security measures have already been in place in anticipation of the observance of All Saints’ and All Souls’ days in order to keep the peace in Misamis Oriental following this week's elections.
