A "HABAL-HABAL" or motorcycle-for-hire driver was gunned down by five unidentified men at Barangay Sebucauan in Isabela, Negros Occidental Sunday morning.
Killed was Joemarie Saracia, 44, of the said village.
Senior Inspector Randy Babor, town police chief, said the victim was walking on his way to church around 7:30 a.m. when the assailants came near him and fired at him at close range.
Babor said witnesses in the area alleged that they heard the gunmen introduced themselves as the New People's Army (NPA) before they left the area on board two motorcycles.
Police recovered from the scene 10 fired cartridges and two slugs of suspected .45 caliber pistol.
Babor said they have yet to confirm if indeed the rebels committed the crime.
But he said that the victim was probably being tagged as another "informant."
He said Saracia has no previous death threats.
Police have yet to determine the motive of the killing. (GYM)