Robbers shoot man over phone in Consolacion

CEBU, Philippines - A man died while another one is in critical condition after they were shot and hit by unidentified assailants in Consolacion town and Cebu City, respectively, last Friday night.

Randy Hiyas, 28, died of a lone gunshot wound to his chest after he was shot dead by one of two assailants who then took his cellular phone and fled.

Investigation showed that the victim was walking with his friend, Richie Intera, 27, towards their boarding house in Sitio Libo, Barangay Tayud in Consolacion town at past 10 p.m. when two men onboard a motorcycle stopped behind them.

Without saying anything, the backrider shot the victim with an unknown caliber of gun and hit him on his chest. The assailant took the cellular phone that the victim was just using.

Intera, of Maribago, Lapu-lapu City, managed to run and threw away his own cellular phone and eventually evaded the assailants. The assailants picked up Intera’s phone and sped off.

Hiyas was able to ask for help from a security guard manning a furniture establishment not far away. He was then taken to the Vicente Sotto Memorial Medical Center in Cebu City where he was declared dead on arrival.

Also last Friday, a 41-year-old man is in critical condition after he was shot and hit several times in the body by two unidentified men in Sitio Estaciunan, Barangay Mabolo at around 6 p.m.

Rommel Medico, a resident of Barangay Hipodromo, was standing and talking with his friends when he was suddenly shot by a man wearing a white shirt and short pants.

The assailant fled on foot with an unidentified companion. The two ran towards the Ayala Access Road in Barangay Hipodromo while the victim, who was hit in the left part of his body, left arm and right thigh, was taken to the Cebu Velez General Hospital where he is currently fighting for his life.

Police recovered five empty shells of caliber .45 pistol from the crime scene.

Homicide Section investigators have yet to determine the motive behind the incident but they received a report that the victim had a conflict with someone. (FREEMAN)