Charles Balbon Sr. who was shot by an unidentified gunman on Saturday in Brgy. 2 poblacion, Silay City, died the next day, police chief Supt. Rosauro Francisco, said yesterday.

Despite gunshot wounds in the breast and stomach, Balbon Sr. initially survived the attempt on his life. He, however, died later at the Dr. Pablo O. Torre Memorial Hospital in Bacolod City, Francisco added.

On August 2, the son of Balbon, Charles Jr., was also gunned down by an unidentified man riding in tandem with another on a motorcycle at McKinley-Gomez streets in Silay City, police records show.

Francisco, yesterday said the descriptions provided by witnesses, showed that the gunman of Balbon and his son, are the same.

The gunman was sporting long hair, carried a 40mm pistol, and fled on board a motorcycle, he added.

Francisco said they are facing difficulty in establishing the identity of the gunman, who was probably known to the elder Balbon, as family members of the victims refused to cooperate with them.

Despite this, Silay Mayor Jose Montelibano ordered the police to identify the perpetrators, and exert their best effort to solve the crime. Francisco said he will also seek the help of the National Bureau of Investigation for facial sketches of the gunman, based on the descriptions of a member of the 6th Regional Public Safety Battalion, who responded to the shooting incident.

He said Police Officer 1 Ryan Calalas, a member of the 6th RPSB, who had helped Balbon, could not fire at the fleeing suspect, for fear that somebody might get hit by a stray bullet.

The elder Balbon had previously been linked by the police to drug peddling activities, and illegal gambling.

Francisco said reports indicate that the attempt on Balbon Sr. and the killing of his son last month, was related to his debts involving a big amount of money to a certain person, which is now being verified.

He admitted that they are also looking into the possibility that it was be drug-related.

Francisco said the empty shells and slugs recovered the two shooting incidents will be matched, to determine if they were fired from the same gun.

Balbon Sr., had reportedly been dubbed “Robinhood” by his neighbors in Brgy. Mambulac, Silay City, because of his generosity.*GPB

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