A Silay barangay captain was shot dead at the fish port in Purok Sibucao, Brgy. Banago, Bacolod City, at about 4:30 a.m. yesterday.

Dead on arrival at the Riverside Medical Center was Brgy. Balaring Captain Victor Diamante, 53, married, who succumbed to a lone gunshot wound on his nape allegedly inflicted by Emiliano Saballa Paes Jr., alias "Boy Paes", married, of Brgy. Tanza, E.B. Magalona, police reports said.

Senior Insp. Leonardo Borromeo, newly-installed Police Station 3 commander, yesterday told the DAILY STAR, they are eyeing a personal grudge as the motive of the shooting, but are not discounting other possible reasons.

Before the shooting, Diamante and Paes, 60, engaged in a heated argument when the latter took a handful of shrimps from the victim's tub, Borromeo said.

He said Paes, who was often seen in the fish port, had an old grudge with Diamante who reportedly refused to give him fish and shrimps every time he asked for some. It has not been determined, however, if the shooting has any relation to politics, he added.

Police records show that Paes, who remains at-large, has pending arrest warrants for violation of the Commission on Election gun ban and for murder in Manapla and in E.B. Magalona, Borromeo said.

Acting Bacolod City police director, Senior Supt. Ronilo Quebrar, said Borromeo has been tasked to investigate the case and exert all efforts to arrest Paes.

Silay Mayor Carlo Gamban yesterday told the DAILY STAR in a phone interview that Diamante's death was a great loss to the city government, especially to Brgy. Balaring.

Gamban, who arrived from Manila yesterday, said he has instructed Chief Insp. Calixto Mabugat, Silay PNP commander, to send investigators to coordinate with the Bacolod police in determining the real motive of the shooting and in the immediate arrest of Paes.

He also said that Diamante, who was on his second term, was a good, kind and sincere person.

In behalf of the residents of Silay City, Gamban said he is sympathizing with the Diamante family and is hoping justice will be served on his death.

Diamante's eldest son, Jun Vic, told Aksyon Radyo in an interview that his father had not mentioned to him anything about death threats. He said he believes the incident was related to his fish business.*DMG

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