Anti-crime volunteer shot dead

CEBU, Philippines - A 52-year-old active member of an anti-crime volunteer group was shot to death by unidentified assailant near his house in Barangay Maslog, Danao City at around 3:25 a.m. yesterday.

The fatality, Ronilo Batican, married, owned a sari-sari store in their place and engaged in buy and sell of animals. He was a member of the Lungsod Batok Salaud (LUBAS) and the Barangay Intelligence Network (BIN).

Initial investigation conducted by Danao City police revealed that while the victim was on his way to his store, an unidentified man appeared from behind and pulled out a .45 caliber of firearm and shot the victim several times to different parts of his body.

The unknown assailant immediately fled leaving Batican sprawled on the ground and bathed in his own blood. The victim was declared dead on the spot due to several gunshot wounds he sustained.

SPO3 Aresteo Espina said that they are still to determine the motive of the crime and the identity of the suspect. He said one of the possible angles they would be looking into is revenge by the enemy of his son.

“Dili nuon ko kasiguro og nakapatay ba o nakapusil ang anak sa biktima pero naa daw ni gigakontra niadtong miaging tuig,” SPO3 Espina.

Responding police officers recovered seven empty shells of .45 caliber of firearm in the crime scene. — Gabriel C. Bonjoc/WAB   (FREEMAN NEWS)