89th vigilante victim? Snatcher killed after release from detention

The man gunned down in barangay Quiot Wednesday night, believed to be the 89th victim of vigilantes, had just been released from the Pardo police station a few minutes before the killing.

Records at the Pardo police station revealed that 28-year-old Romeo Allera was arrested last Tuesday noon in sitio Ubka in barangay Quiot, Cebu City for allegedly stealing a Nokia 3315 mobile phone worth P2,000 owned by one David Patrimonio.

It was Patrimonio himself who arrested Allera and had him jailed at the Pardo Police station. But Allera was released at around 6:15 pm last Wednesday after Patrimonio failed to show up at the police station supposedly for the filing of appropriate charges.

By around 7pm, Allera's body was found sprawled along the road after two men wearing bull caps onboard a motorcycle peppered him with bullets.

As this developed, Homicide investigator Zenaido Pastorfide, Jr. told The FREEMAN yesterday they would invite for questioning one Evelyn Allera, aunt of the victim to determine the victim's background.

Pastorfide said they might also invite Patrimonio if they see there is a need for him to make a statement.

Initial investigation revealed that the victim clang on to a multicab bound for Punta Princesa, but was told by the driver to disembark from the vehicle. When Allera got off, the perpetrators onboard the motorcycle passed by and shot him.

He was hit in the head, in his back, left arm and left knee.

Pastorfide maintained that nobody at the time of the incident was able to identify the perpetrators and get the color and type of the motorcycle that was used. - Ryan P. Borinaga