Man found dead under a tree

CEBU, Philippines - A dead man with gunshot wounds was found under a tree in Zitio Kilat, Barangay Buhisan, Cebu City past 5 p.m. last Thursday.

Police believe that Bavencio Villona, 39, a resident of Lower South Hills in Barangay Tisa was shot dead by an unidentified gunman.

Investigation showed that at around 3 p.m. that day, the victim told his minor daughter that he will go to Buhisan to look for snails for their viand for supper.

However, Villona’s daughter got worried because it was already almost night time and her father has failed to return home. This prompted her to tell her cousins, who then decided to look for him in Buhisan. The victim’s relatives were surprised when they found his lifeless body under a tree.

Responding policemen examined the victim’s body and found out that he suffered from gunshot wounds to the right temple and back of his body with the bullet exiting through his chest which was believed to have caused his instantaneous death.

Police also recovered six empty shells of an undetermined caliber of firearm from the crime scene.

PO2 Leroy Baguio of Cebu City Police Office-Homicide Section said that some of the residents near the place told them that they heard successive gunshots that afternoon which prompted them all to run without seeing the gunman.

Baguio said the victim could have possibly been mistaken as a thief who steals woods in the place. Security guards in the place would allegedly often warn residents that taking woods from the area is prohibited.

The police are still conducting investigation on the incident to determine the possible motive while also not discounting the possibility that someone may have been harboring a grudge against the victim. — Niña G. Sumacot/WAB   (FREEMAN NEWS)