PRO-6: Holy Week peaceful despite shootings

A sea of people parades along with the carriages during the Holy Week procession on Rizal Street in Bacolod City on March 30, Good Friday. ARCHIE REY ALIPALO/PN

ILOILO City – Holy Week in Western Visayas was relatively peaceful, according to the Police Regional Office (PRO-6), even if a man died while four others were injured in separate shootings in Negros Occidental on Good Friday and Black Saturday.

“We achieved our mission of having zero major crimes,” said Superintendent Gilbert Gorero, spokesperson of the regional police. “We congratulate PRO-6’s men and women who worked hard.”

Gorero cited volunteers in the barangays who made sure their communities remained safe.

PRO-6 mobilized 5,000 police personnel and tapped around 4,000 volunteers.

“We deployed our personnel to different areas…We are thankful for the cooperation of the public,” said Gorero.

Police Assistance Desks and checkpoints were set up.

On the other hand, the Philippine Coast Guard – Iloilo said it had not recorded any incident at the Iloilo Strait.

Annually during Holy Week, pilgrims would go to Guimaras crossing the Iloilo Strait from Iloilo City.

PCG Iloilo station commander Lieutenant Rodolfo Dela Peña said around 28,000 people went to Guimaras from Holy Thursday and Good Friday.

Meanwhile, four separate shootings in Negros Occidental on Good Friday and Black Saturday killed a man and injured four others.

The 58-year-old Sunny Villamor of Barangay Tabugon, Kabankalan City was gunned down while on his way home from Barangay Camansi, also in Kabankalan City, around 5:30 p.m. on Friday.

In Barangay Odiong, Moises Padilla, four suspected members of the New People’s Army shot the 44-year-old Dave Tortal at his residence around 7:40 p.m. on Friday.

According to investigators, there was a misunderstanding between the group of a certain “Kadong Mancao” and a group of men.

One person was wounded but they have not yet been identified, said the police.

At around 9:30 a.m. on Saturday four unidentified suspects shot a village councilman and his son in Barangay Inayawan, Cauayan.

Luciano Montilla Sr. of Barangay Baclao, Cauayan and son Luciano Jr. were on board a tricycle when attacked./PN

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