The Passi City Police Station (PCPS) has assured the public of their safety following two separate shooting incidents in Iloilo province’s lone  component city.

During a press briefing held at the Police Regional Office (PRO-6) headquarters, Police Lieutenant Colonel German Magbanua III, PCPS head, emphasized that local police forces are actively coordinating with community leaders to prevent future violence, particularly in far-flung barangays.

“We can assure the people of Passi City that we are doing everything to maintain peace and order,” he said

“We have already talked with the ABC President of the Liga ng mga Barangay to tighten our campaign against loose firearms and strengthen the utilization of our barangay force multipliers,” the city’s top cop continued.

Magbanua said efforts to recover unregistered and loose firearms will be doubled considering that the city has several distant and remote barangays.

He also vowed to the families of victims in the incidents that they would not rest until justice is served.

Brutal killing of couple in Salngan

Two elderlies were found dead outside their home in Barangay Salngan on the morning of July 5.

The victims were identified as alias “Rufo”, an 80-year-old farmer, and his wife, “Cecil.”

Rufo sustained gunshot wounds to his back and the right side of his head, while Cecil suffered severe head injuries and a gunshot wound to her leg.

The two were rushed to the Don Valerio Palmares Sr. Memorial District Hospital but were declared dead on arrival.

Investigators have ruled out robbery, as no belongings were reported missing, and dismissed “tripping” due to the remote and isolated location of the couple’s home.

The police are currently focusing on land disputes and family feuds as the primary motives.

While three Persons of Interest (POIs) have already been identified and are currently under close police surveillance and background checks, Magbanua chose to withhold their identities to avoid jeopardizing the ongoing case build-up.

He also mentioned that they have a witness who “holds vital information” but is currently hesitant to disclose full details.

“We are completing the evidence. We want to see to it that we file cases against the exact and right individuals,” Magbanua added.

Midnight shooting in Cabunga

Another shooting occurred on June 9, leaving 60-year-old resident alias “Jerry” wounded.

Jerry of Barangay Cabunga sustained gunshot wounds to his stomach, and doctors later extracted five 12-gauge shotgun pellets from his body.

Police investigations point to a personal grudge as the motive, with one person of interest (POI) currently being tracked.

The POI is a resident of the same village who works in Pavia but stays in Santa Barbara.

Unified security drive

Despite these “isolated” violent incidents, Magbanua reiterated that the PCPS is “highly capable of securing the city.”

By mobilizing the barangay peacekeeping networks and intensifying intelligence-driven checkpoints, the local police force aims to clamp down on the movement of illegal firearms and reassure residents that their communities remain safe.IMT