NEGROS Occidental Governor Alfredo Marañon Jr. has offered a P2-million bounty to anyone who can provide information that can lead to the arrest of the assailant who shot dead Fifth District Board Member Renato Malabor and his aide on Sunday.
Marañon said Malabor’s colleagues at the Provincial Board are also expected to add to the bounty.
“They (board members) are still determining the total amount for the additional reward,” Marañon said.
Senior Inspector Ramel Sarona of Isabela Municipal Police Station said the victims just left the cockpit in Asenso Village, Barangay Guintubhan at 1:15 a.m. and were about to board the official’s vehicle when the gunmen fired at them.
They were both shot in the back. Malabor, 65, passed away at around 3 a.m. while being transferred to the Bacolod Adventist Medical Center while Jumilla, 52, who worked for the board member for 15 years, died on the way to Ignacio Arroyo Memorial District Hospital in the town.
Witnesses said the assailant, who was wearing white sando and shorts, fled on foot toward the Isabela-Binalbagan road.
The gunman was described as 5'4” to 5'5” tall, but bystanders were not able to see his face clearly because he was wearing a ball cap.
Isabela Deputy Police Chief Joseph Baylon Partidas said they were informed that Malabor has been receiving death threats.
Malabor’s remains now lie in the state at St. Peter Memorial Chapels in Barangay Alijis, Bacolod City. He is survived by his wife Aracelli, and children Renato Jr. and Blessyl Renee.