A POLICEMAN was shot dead inside San Vicente Ferrer Enterprises in Barangay Poblacion, Guihulngan City, Negros Oriental on Wednesday, December 19.

Killed was Senior Inspector Porferio Gabuya Jr., deputy for operations of Guihulngan City Police Station.

Senior Superintendent Raul Tacaca, director of Negros Oriental Police Provincial Office (Norppo), said the police officer was having a coffee with a colleague, who was not wearing a police uniform, when two unidentified armed men on a motorcycle arrived.

One of the assailants fired at the victim. Then both suspects whose faces were covered with t-shirts and dark shades fled on board a black motorcycle without a license plate.

Gabuya was rushed to a hospital, where he was declared dead.

He came from police checkpoint operations earlier that day.

The incident happened a few meters away from the city police station.

Tacaca said they are looking at the possibility that the members of the New People's Army (NPA) were behind the attack since the city is considered to be an infested area by the rebels.

"It's not the first time police was targeted here," he said.

In July 2017, Superintendent Arnel Arpon, former chief of Guihulngan City Police Station, along with four personnel of the city police station was killed in an ambush perpetrated by the NPA in Barangay Magsaysay.

The police responded to a call for assistance from Councilor Edison de la Rita, who was also killed by the rebels at Barangay Poblacion in April this year.

"Our enemies -- they know us, but we don't know them," Tacaca said.

Tacaca also said they are looking at the cases handled by Gabuya and his previous assignments.

The Norppo director said Gabuya came from Cebu Police Provincial Office before he was assigned in Negros Oriental in October this year.

"He had been active in the police operations particularly in illegal drugs in Guihulngan City," Tacaca said.

"We're also looking at the cases and arrests," Tacaca added.