Activist dead, husband hurt in Candijay shooting frenzy

An active officer of a women's party-list group was killed while her husband was seriously hurt in a bizarre shooting incident in Candijay town. The fatality was identified as one Liezelda Cuñado, 30, a resident of Panadtaran, Candijay town. Her husband, Gerry, 30, survived the shooting which took place last April 3 in their hometown.

The suspect was identified as one Joel Bayron, 37, a neighbor of the victims and an alleged military “asset” (slang for informant). Initial investigation revealed that last Monday dawn, the suspect got out of his residence, shouting and asking who were responsible for the stoning of his house. At about that time, Gerry emerged from his house with his wife. It was not immediately known if they got out of the house simply out of curiosity or whether they were directly challenged by the suspect. Once they were out of their house however, the suspect immediately started shooting. It could not be determined if the suspect was under the influence of liquor at the time.

Bayron shot Gerry twice and the latter was hit on his right chest. He was subsequently rushed to the Gov. Celestino Gallares Memorial Hospital in Tagbilaran City. The suspect next aimed his gun at Liezelda and shot her once. The victim, who was pregnant, died instantly. Bayron, who immediately fled from the scene of the crime aboard his motorcycle, has not been arrested. His wife Gazeela, 31, proceeded to the Candijay police station for safekeeping. She said she feared retribution from the relatives of the victims of her husband's shooting frenzy. Investigators learned that it was not the first confrontation between the two families.

Earlier, the Cuñados were irked with Bayron after the latter reportedly cut down trees that were owned by the victims. The suspect's wife however insisted that her husband had been given approval by the victims to do so. As this developed, the Women's Development Center (WDC) issued a statement blaming the military for the killing. The WDC is a German-funded NGO where Liezelda worked as a community organizer.

Gabriela, a party-list organization where she was also active as an officer, also condemned the killing. Boy Pernia, chief of the Provincial Government Media Affairs, however disputed the accusation, calling it misinformation. Pernia said that based on a fact-finding team sent to investigate the incident, the shooting was an ordinary crime perpetrated by the suspect. Although he was known as a military informer, Pernia said it would be unfair to put political color to the shooting.

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