Two dead in shooting incidents

Two men were shot dead while watching a benefit dance in separate shooting incidents in Sogod and Badian town Sunday dawn and yesterday dawn.

Victor Molde, 32, married, and a resident of barangay Tabili, Catmon town, was shot at sitio Pangi, barangay Nahus-an, Sogod, at 3:00 a.m Sunday, and sustained two gunshot wounds in his upper right back and hips, causing his death.

SPO1 Arsenio Cuming of the Sogod police yesterday said that initial investigation revealed that the victim was attending the fiesta celebration of the said place and was sitting on a bench of a store near the place where a benefit dance was held.

The suspect, a certain Randy Poro, reportedly approached the victim from behind and shot him at close range as indicated by the presence of powder burns near the victim's wounds. The suspect, who had companions, a certain Renante Doña and five other unidentified males who served as lookouts, reportedly had a grudge against Molde.

Cuming said that the victim died before reaching the Sogod District Hospital and was declared dead on arrival by the attending physician.

In Badian, a man was shot dead in barangay Malhiao also while watching a benefit dance yesterday dawn.

Responding policemen led by deputy chief of police SPO4 Vicente Suerte Jr., responded to the alarm after a concerned citizen informed them that Randy Saldua, 36, married, and a resident of the place, was shot by an unidentified person while watching the benefit dance.

The responding policemen rushed the victim to the Badian District Hospital, but Saldua was declared dead on arrival by the attending physician.

An autopsy report disclosed that victim sustained two gunshot wounds in his chest causing his death.

The police are still investigating the matter to determine the motive and the persons responsible for the incident. - Norvie S. Misa