Suspected robber shot to death in Mandaue city

CEBU, Philippines - A suspected robber was shot to death by two unidentified motorcycle-riding men along H. Abellana Street in barangay Basak, Mandaue City the other night.

Witnesses said Judy Catarungan alias Pakol, 22, married, and a resident of barangay Casili, Mandaue City was walking along H. Abellana Street when the gunman approached him from behind and shot him. Afterwards, the gunman casually walked to a waiting motorcycle driven by another man.

Investigators later found that the bullet had exited the victim’s left cheek.

Responding policemen from the Basak Police Station 3 found a deformed slug of a .45 pistol from the crime scene.

Witnesses said the suspects used a black motorcycle with no license plate. The gunman was reportedly about 5’4 in height wearing a yellow t-shirt while the driver was wearing a black t-shirt.

Homicide chief George Aniñon said there is a possibility that the suspects wanted to get back at Catarungan, as the latter reportedly helped the police chase a suspected robber last Saturday in barangay Canduman. The suspect, however, managed to flee.

Aniñon said it is also possible that Catarungan was a subject of a shoot-to-kill order for his alleged ties to a suspected robbery group. Catarungan’s supposed colleagues in the group – Melchor Sisenta alias Yun-yun and Rocky Senda alias Nodnod - were also killed last Monday evening.

A certain Junnel is also a member of the group. – Flor Z. Perolina/JMO

   (THE FREEMAN)