Masbate village chief’s house strafed; 5 dead

LEGAZPI CITY – Five persons were killed after at least five men strafed the house of a barangay captain in Nabongsoran, Aroroy, Masbate on Friday.

Senior Superintendent Malou Calubaquib, Bicol police spokesperson, identified the fatalities as Jeo Cabarles, 21, son of barangay captain Leo Cabarles; village watchman Ariel Madrilejos, 39; John Paul Cristobal, 19, newly elected Sangguniang Kabataan council member, and Dijie Cabarles, 31.

Another village watchman Ricky Alejo died while being treated at the Masbate Provincial Hospital yesterday.

Jury Cabarles, the chief barangay tanod, was wounded.

The victims were having a drinking spree at around 9:15 p.m. when the shooting occurred, according to a report received by the Aroroy police.

Bullet shells for an M16 rifle and a caliber .45 pistol were recovered at the scene.

Calubaquib said several witnesses identified four of the gunmen as Rickymar Cabarles, 42, and his brother Ruben, 41, Nelson Carmen and Edan Amparo. Reports gathered by The

STAR showed the suspects are relatives of some of the victims and that politics or a land dispute could be the motive for the killings.

Senior Superintendent Froilan Navarosa, Masbate police director, said a task force was created to investigate the incident.

Police also set up checkpoints on the possible exit routes of the assailants.