American national, live-in partner shot

An American national who is a former member of the U.S. Army was killed while his live-in partner is now in critical condition after a bonnet-wearing man shot them at a village in Banawa, barangay Guadalupe yesterday afternoon.

The victims were identified as Victor Noe, 68, and Catalina Cabanes, 35, both of San Agustin Heights in barangay Tisa.

Cabanes' two daughters aged eight and 11 years old from her previous two relationships were disembarking from a taxi at the front gate of the village when the attack happened.

An unidentified witness told the Punta Princesa Police Station personnel that he saw the shooting and even followed the assailant up to Salvador Street in Labangon.

Punta Princesa policemen said the witness hastily left in his light blue vehicle after giving them the information.

Another witness that police are now looking for was a man, believed to be a collector, who was reportedly near the crime scene.

Police reports said the gunman has a backup waiting on a motorcycle with a plate number 7880 parked few meters away.

Concerned citizens who saw the children crying near the bodies of their parents brought Cabanes to Chong Hua Hospital.

SPO3 Alex Dacua of the Homicide Section told The Freeman that the perpetrators may have been tailing the victims and got their chance in Banawa when the victims stopped.

The eleven-year-old girl told The Freeman that they just arrived from Pagadian City yesterday morning and proceeded to the Department of Foreign Affairs office.

She claimed that Noe, who is set to marry her mother, is planning to bring them to United States next year, and that they were working on their travel documents yesterday morning before going to Banawa.

The couple had a house in San Agustin Heights but reportedly planned to sell it so they could transfer to their other house in Banawa, police said.

Police, who learned that Cabanes and her previous husband have an annulment case filed in court, are looking into love triangle as the motive in the shooting since the gunman did not take the money and jewelry of the victims.

Operatives from the Scene of the Crime Operation led by Chief Insp. Benjamin Lara recovered two caliber .45 shells and a blue bonnet allegedly owned by the gunman.

Lara told The Freeman that Noe was shot in close range. - Edwin Ian Melecio