2 men shot dead in city, Argao

CEBU, Philippines - Two men died after they were shot several times in separate incidents in Cebu City and Argao yesterday.

The incident in Cebu City occurred around 3am in Barangay Lahug. The victim was identified as Aldren Tecson, 30, a construction worker.

Investigation showed that Tecson took a motorcycle-for-hire to the corner of sitio Sudlon near the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints around 3am yesterday. Shortly after he disembarked, two men aboard another motorcycle arrived and the man riding in pillion shot him.

The victim sustained several gunshot wounds on his body. Three empty shells of a caliber .45 pistol were recovered from the crime scene.

SPO4 Alex Dacua of the Homicide Section of the city police said the perpetrators might have followed Tecson until they found the right timing to open fire.

Investigation is ongoing to determine the possible motive behind the attack.

Meanwhile, another man died in Argao town after he was shot several times while sleeping inside the guardhouse of the municipal abattoir in Barangay Canbawa early yesterday morning.

The victim was identified as Ernesto Reyes Abrigana, 38, while the suspect was identified as a certain Nanting Panes, a resident of Barangay Poblacion.

Investigation revealed that before he proceeded to the abattoir, Abrigana came from a drinking session in Barangay Tulik and allegedly went wild, challenging people along the road to a fist fight. When he arrived at the abattoir on board a tricycle, Abrigana punched the tricycle’s windshield and broke the glass. The driver, Mateo Bayking, 60, reported the incident to the police.

At the abattoir, Abrigana told the laborers therein that someone wanted to kill him and proceeded to the guard house.

Minutes later, Panes arrived looking for Abrigana with a .45 pistol. Noni Fuentes, a member of the Barangay Intelligence Network, tried to stop him, but Panes fought his way to the guard house. There, he shot Abrigana several times, hitting him twice on the legs and four times on the back. Laborers said Panes immediately fled on board a motorcycle.

SPO1 Arnold Abenir of the Argao police told The FREEMAN that they received the alarm 40 minutes after the tricycle driver reported the incident with Abrigana.

“Nagtuo gyud mi nga ang gipatay mao ang gi-blotter, wa gyud diay mi masayop,” Abenir said.

Policemen recovered six empty shells of a caliber .45 pistol and two deformed metallic slugs of the same caliber of firearm. Abrigana’s remains now lie at the Tupas Memorial Homes in Carcar City and will be subjected to autopsy. — (FREEMAN)