A BUSINESSMAN was shot to death in broad daylight by two unidentified assailants on board a motorcycle on B.S. Aquino Drive-Lacson Streets, Barangay 5 in Bacolod City around 12:30 p.m. Tuesday, June 14.
Police identified the fatality as Jeffrey Keng Seng, 40, of Gatuslao-27th Streets in the city's Barangay 1.
Lieutenant Jonito Pastrana, deputy commander of Police Station 2, said Keng Seng was driving his Nissan Patrol vehicle when the assailants fired at him several times and fled.
While wounded, Keng Seng tried to drive his car toward the west direction until he bumped into the fence along B.S. Aquino Drive, Pastrana said.
The victim succumbed to multiple gunshot wounds. He was no longer brought to a hospital for treatment.
Authorities recovered from the scene of the crime several empty shells of unidentified firearms.
Pastrana said they are eying conflict in property as a possible motive in the killing of the victim.
The family of the victim has some properties in Bacolod City and other localities in Negros Occidental, he said, adding that "we are conducting a thorough investigation to determine if the victim was the sole target of the suspects."
The police are now coordinating with the family of the victim, as well as to the business establishment owners in the area to check their security cameras to determine the identity of the suspects.
So far, this is the fifth shooting incident that happened in Bacolod City this month. Four victims have been killed.
On June 11, Jestoni Sabare, 30, a member of force multiplier group, was killed by an unidentified assailant on board a motorcycle on Luzuriaga Street, Barangay 13.
Three days prior, on June 8, Jose Allan Braza, 59, an alleged law enforcement asset, was also shot to death by unidentified gunmen in Purok Malipayon, Barangay 35.
On June 5, Rene Mateo, a laborer, was also killed by unidentified man inside the compound of his workplace in Purok 12-A Las Altas, Barangay Alangilan.
On June 1, Michael Diopeta, 28, and Jemar Berja, 42, both residents of Barangay Sum-ag, were injured after they were shot by the husband of their co-worker.
Of five shooting incidents, only the case of Diopeta and Berja were solved by the police after the suspect, Rommel Castillo, of Barangay Cabug, was arrested and charged with frustrated murder.