Armed men storm robbery suspect’s Sipalay house

BACOLOD City – A suspected member of a notorious robbery group operating in southern Negros was shot dead.

Armed men raided his house in Sitio Malipayon, Barangay San Jose,

Sipalay City, Negros Occidental late Thursday night.

Raymundo Villanueva was a suspected member of the Villanueva robbery group operating in the town of Cauayan, Negros Occidental and nearby areas, according to Police Major James Latayon, Sipalay City police chief.

The armed men, believed to be New People’s Army ( NPA) rebels, stormed Villanueva’s house at around 1 p.m. They introduced themselves as members of the military.

The men were trying to get Villanueva’s “carbine rifle”. When he refused to hand it over, the men shot him, killing him on the spot, said Latayon.

The victim was a relative of Villanueva robbery group leader Ritching Villanueva who was killed in March of 2017 in Bacolod City, said Latayon./PN