A former barangay chairman of Ingore in La Paz, Iloilo City was shot dead in a "talipapa" (flea market) in Barangay Baldoza in the morning of August 5, 2024.
The victim identified as Ernie Poral was reportedly at the market to buy chicken feeds when a man came near him, pulled out a gun, and fired at him several times.
Witnesses said the perpetrator was in black and was wearing a crash helmet when the shooting was carried out.
The perpetrator fled on board a motorcycle.
One of the motives investigated by the authorities is Poral's business that is related to gamefowls.
Later in the night, a man was arrested in Guimbal town, Iloilo Province for the death of Poral.
However, the suspect denied vehemently the accusation.
The suspect identified as Nilo Guardaya said he was in Guimbal preoccupied in sawing pieces of wood the entire day on August 5, 2024. But the Iloilo City Police Office said that based on review of the CCTV footage, the suspect was traced to have traveled to Guimbal.
Guardaya was also found to be the suspect in a shooting incident that killed a person in Barangay Villa Anita, Iloilo City in March 2024. He has other cases such as estafa and illegal logging.
During the review of the CCTV footage in Barangay Ingore, the suspect was seen to have waited purposedly for Poral, went after the victim who got out of his house along with his wife.
Poral’s wife is convinced that the suspect is a “gun-for-hire.”
Relatives of the victim have recognized the facial features of the suspect to be the same man who was seen loitering outside of Poral’s house days before the incident happened.
The police are yet to determine the motive of the killing as investigation is ongoing, as of posting time.
