Man shot dead in Toledo; couple shot by neighbor in Argao

CEBU, Philippines - A young man met his untimely death after an unidentified person shot him several times on the head in Barangay Sto. Niño, Toledo City last Friday afternoon.

The shooting happened when the 22-year-old victim, Bryan Bellejo Pialago, was heading home on board his motorbike around 1pm. The suspect shot Pialago just as the latter reached a feeder road.

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

SPO4 Gil Lastimosa of the Toledo City Police said they are looking at personal grudge as the possible motive of the attack, but residents in the area reportedly not cooperating in the investigation.

Two hours later in Barangay Jomgao, Argao town, a couple landed in the hospital after their neighbor shot them following an argument over animal feeds. The incident happened at 3pm in Niere’s Compound in Barangay Jomgao.

Investigation revealed that an hour before the shooting, couple Ernestino Niera, 29, and Michelle Niere, 31, went to a farm to gather animal feeds locally called as “kompay” or “ohot” for the cows they are raising.

Moments later, their neighbor Wilky Salem, 20, also arrived and started gathering the feeds. But the couple allegedly confronted Salem and told him they were the first to arrive in the area. Irked, Salem left them.

An hour later, the couple went home only to be greeted by Salem at the compound gate with a gun in hand. Salem fired shots and hit Ernestino on the stomach and Michelle on the left side of her body. The couple said Salem fled right after shooting them.

The victims were taken to the Isidro Kintanar Memorial Hospital and were later transferred to a hospital in Cebu City for further medication. (FREEMAN)