Fixer shot dead

CEBU, Philippines - An alleged fixer at the Land Transportation Office (LTO) in Talisay City who was on his way home was shot dead yesterday in sitio Bapaka, barangay Pooc, Talisay City by unidentified men traveling on a motorcycle.

PO3 Alan Cuizon and PO2 Jundave David identified the victim as one Loreto Lapingcao, 53, and a resident of Pooc.

Lapingcao sustained a gun shot wound on the right side of his head, the bullet exiting on his right cheek.

PO2 David said Lapingcao was on his way home from LTO on board a tricycle when shot.

As he was nearing his home, two men on a red motorcycle suddenly appeared, and then one of them shot Lapingcao.

PO2 David had theorized that the killing may have something to do with Lapingcao’s work.

Lapingcao had done time but PO2 David said he did not know for what reason.

Lapingcao was reportedly the second fixer in LTO-Talisay to have been killed.

The first was one Joe Cauba.

Last year, a similar incident happened in barangay Dumlog where a man was shot while strolling.

Police at that time said the nature of work of the man could have been the reason why he was shot. The man, too, was a fixer. — Mylen P. Manto, Mellanie Joy C. Rosales CNU Interns, Cerie Uy Gamboa SWU intern, Brenda D. Batuto of Banat News