An alleged human rights activist was gunned down yesterday by two men in Brgy. Buenavista, Himamaylan City, who were later arrested by policemen in a pursuit operation in Kabankalan City, all in Negros Occidental.

The victim identified as Benjamen Bayles, 42, who sustained multiple bullet wounds in his body, was declared dead on arrival at the Valeriano Gatuslao District Hospital in Himamaylan City.

The two suspected assassins who were wearing bonnets and had fled on board a TMX black motorcycle, were intercepted by policemen manning a checkpoint at the Brgy. 1 poblacion in Kabankalan City.

Kabankalan policemen recovered two .45 caliber pistols from the two suspects identified as Roger Bahon, 26, of Brgy. Tiling, Cauayan, and Ronnie Caurino, 24, of Brgy. Cayhagan, Sipalay City.

Their arrest was made after the help of Kabankalan policemen was tapped by the Himamaylan police.

Felipe Levy Gelle Bayan, secretary general of Bagong Alyansang Makabayan-Negros, in a text message to the Visayan DAILY STAR, claimed that the two suspects in the death of Bayles, a member of Bayan-Muna party-list group, are members of the Philippine Army.

Initial police investigations showed that Bayles, a human rights activist as claimed by Gelle, was waiting for a ride at Crossing Sitio Antolo in Brgy, Buenavista, Himamaylan City, when he was shot.

PO3 John Derek Capunong, an investigator of the Himamaylan police, said two empty shells of a .45 caliber pistol were recovered from the crime scene.*GPB

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