Suspected burglars shoot man dead

CEBU - In an attempt to rescue his children from attackers yesterday morning, a man was shot dead by unidentified assailants believed to be burglars.

Alejandro Tito Jr., 59, suffered a fatal gunshot wound to his chest after an unidentified assailant shot him when he tried to help his son, Bryan, who had run ahead of him after they were awakened by the shouts for help from his married daughter, Maribeth Olayvar, who was alone in her room at that time in an adjacent house.

Investigation conducted by SPO1 Luis Perales of the Danao City police station revealed that Maribeth was awakened by somebody who was trying to break into her house along Almendras St., barangay Suba, Danao City.

Maribeth then cried for help which prompted Alejandro and Bryan to respond. Bryan reportedly saw of a trisikad parked outside Maribeth’s house, so he proceeded to check on who had parked the said vehicle there. But the assailant, who was hiding nearby, pistol-whipped him with a gun.

Alejandro rushed to Bryan’s rescue but was shot by another man. The assailants then fled from the area.

Alejandro failed to make it alive to the Danao District Hospital. Police are now conducting a follow-up investigation on the incident to identify the perpetrators and establish the motive of the failed break-in. 

Meanwhile, a 53-year-old man was hacked at the back of his head by a 22-year-old man last Sunday at 5:30 p.m. in sitio Ylaya, barangay Curba, Medellin town, allegedly over jealousy.

Mecias Paradela is now confined at the Severo Verallo District Hospital in Bogo City after sustaining a hack wound allegedly from a certain Reyno Ostia, married, and a resident of sitio Quarry of the said barangay.

An investigation conducted by PO3 Paquito Son revealed that while Paradela was on his way home to sitio Concepcion, barangay Panugnawan, Ostia, who was allegedly holding a bolo, called him.

Unsuspecting, Paradela approached Ostia but was hacked instead.

Son said that the motive could be jealousy, but that they still have to verify if that was true.

No case against Ostia was filed yet as the police are still waiting for relatives of the aggrieved party to show up at the station. – Niña Chrismae G. Sumacot/MEEV (THE FREEMAN)