Ten days before the May 9, 2016 presidential and local elections, violence reared it’s ugly head when more than ten heavily armed goons sowed terror in the hinterland barangay (village) of Tocdog, Dacu, Loay at 9:30 this morning, Friday, April 29, 2016.
According to reports reaching DYRD Balita, the armed men who were on board three vehicles – two vans and a pick-up truck strafed a sari-sari store near the barangay hall where a known Liberal Party (LP) political leader identified as William Solera hid when he saw the armed men approaching towards him.
To avoid further escalation of the violence and loss of lives, Solera decided to come out from the sari-sari store with arms raised as a sign of surrender while he took off his shirt to show that he was unarmed.
But three of the armed men mauled Solera and pointed a cocked handgun at his head before one of their companions shouted that the police were on the way.
The armed men immediately left the area before responding policemen arrived. A SWAT team from the Bohol Provincial Police Office (BPPO) also arrived at the scene of the incident.
Slugs from armalite rifles, 9MM and caliber 45 handguns were recovered by the police including SWAT operatives in the area.
Separate investigations are being conducted by the Loay Police Station and the SWAT. (Chito M. Visarra with reports from Rey Tutas)