Farmer shot dead; man found dead inside motel

CEBU, Philippines -  A farmer was shot several times by three unidentified men while tilling his land in the mountain barangay of Cambinucot, Cebu City early yesterday morning.

The victim was identified as Filipe Archival, 74, of Purok 4 Ibabaw, Barangay Cambinucot.

His son, Nelson, 43, said his father left the house around 9:30am to work on their field. Minutes later, Nelson said he heard five gunshots, which prompted him to look for his father. To his horror, he later saw his father sprawled on the ground at the field, his face and stomach drenched in blood.

PO3 Ruth Violango of the Cebu City Police Office homicide section told The Freeman that a female farmer saw how the victim was shot and killed by three assailants. The woman was reportedly just meters away from the victim when she saw three masked men walking towards Archival. The three immediately fled after shooting the victim.

Initial investigation revealed that the victim sustained three gunshot wounds on his stomach and multiple shots on his face. However, only two empty shells of an unidentified firearm were recovered near Archival’s body.

“Mitago ni ang witness pagka kita niya nga armado ang tulo ka tawo,” Violango said. Gipusil gyud ang biktima kadaghan, gi-nawong gyud siya,” she added.

Archival reportedly did not have enemies. “Amo pa gi-consider tanan nga mga angle kay matod sa iyang mga silingan buotan ug wala man siyay kaaway,” she said.

Investigators are also eyeing the possibility that the shooting might be because of the victim’s vast farm land.

Still in Cebu City, a 75-year-old man was found dead inside a motel four hours after he reportedly checked in with a woman on Monday.

Leberato Gilig, of Sitio Ubos Pundok, Barangay Basak Pardo, Cebu City was found dead inside the Amihan Motel located at the North Reclamation Area. The motel’s caretaker, Welmer Canas, 34, was the one who found Gilig’s lifeless body around 7pm while doing his regular rounds of the motel.

Canas reportedly saw the victim sprawled on the stairs at the second floor near Room 22. Canas said Gilig checked in at exactly 3:30 pm with an unidentified woman. However, he reportedly did see the woman leave the motel.

Investigators said it is possible that Gilig was already on his way out of the motel when he experienced a heart attack. The victim’s remains have been subjected to an autopsy to determine the real cause of death. – (FREEMAN)