A former barangay chairman and his live-in partner were found dead inside their pickup truck in Araneta Street, Bacolod City.

The incident on March 7, 2025 at past 7 p.m. was caught on closed-circuit television (CCTV) camera.

The victims identified as Federico Gayagas, Jr., a former barangay chairman of Bacong, Bago City in the Province of Negros Occidental, and Carmelita Davila, a fish dealer in Bacolod City were found to have sustained gunshot wounds.

Davila sustained a fatal wound on her chest, and on other parts of her body, while Gayagas sustained fatal wounds on the head and on the neck.

“Walang external force or attack sa involved pickup. Walang entry bullet, base sa initial investigation ang entry ng bala ay mula sa loob palabas. It’s because may hindi pagkakaintindihan sa dalawa. Nag-aaway sila,” Captain Andy Ofalia, chief of the Bacolod City Police Station 9, said.

According to police investigation, the couple was having an argument prior to the incident.

As of this writing, the respective families of the victims are awaiting final police investigation based on results of the ballistic, cross matching, and bullet trajectory examinations.

Retrieved inside the pickup is a 9mm caliber pistol, an M16, a grenade launcher, and ammunition. Some of the items have supporting documents but the authorities said it is illegal to possess a grenade launcher that is only for uniform personnel.  

“Ang mga explosive, hindi pwede na civilian ang mag-acquire nito. Isa siya sa mga tao ng isang politician, may mga recorded na firearm,” Ofalia said.

The police have also confirmed that Gayagas was implicated before in shooting incidents in the province.