Three men shot dead in separate incidents

Three men were killed in three separate shooting incidents in the towns of Daanbantayan, Carmen and Sibonga the other day.

The first incident happened around 4 a.m. in barangay Tomenjao Upper, Daanbantayan, when Arnel Moralde, a resident of sitio Balidbid, was shot dead by Randy Pepito, a resident of sitio Suba Ibabao, barangay Talisay of the same town.

Responding policemen led by SPO2 Nero Manzares found the victim lying on his back with a gunshot wound in his lower abdomen. Pepito went to barangay Maya to board a passenger bus for Cebu City but policemen apprehended him.

In Carmen town a man was shot and killed over an old grudge in barangay Catipay.

Police identified the victim as Ariel Jopia, of barngay Cantumog, who was allegedly shot by a certain Lando Bermejo of barangay Cantipay.

The victim sustained three gunshot wounds in different parts of his body and was immediately brought to the Danao City District Hospital. He was later transferred to the Vicente Sotto Memorial Medical Center but did not make it there alive.

Responding policemen led by P/Insp. Carlos Reyes Jr. failed to arrest Bermejo.

PO3 Rolen Pescalia of Carmen police station said the victim was sleeping on a bamboo bench at a store when suspect came and confronted the victim regarding their grudges.

The two then got into a fistfight and a shot was eventually heard, as both were armed with handguns, Pescalia said.

Meanwhile, a 20-year-old man who was believed to be a member of a fraternity was shot dead by an unidentified man in front of the Catholic church in barangay Poblacion. Sibonga town.

Mark Paul Lanit of barangay Lamakan was shot in the head by an unidentified man and was killed instantly.

Initial police investigation revealed that the victim was with a friend standing at the area when the assailant came up from behind and shot him at close range. - Norvie S. Misa/BRP