Men shot dead in Lapu-Lapu, San Remigio

CEBU, Philippines - Two men, one of whom an alleged drug pusher, were shot to death in separate incidents in Lapu-Lapu City and the northern town of San Remigio.

In Lapu-Lapu City, Luis Bryan Momongan, 21, was at a drinking session at the house of one of his friends, Rolly Banzon, in Barangay Bankal dawn yesterday when two men reportedly peeked at the jalousie blades. Later, two bursts of gunfire echoed in the air and Momongan was left with two wounds on the left part of his body.

He was declared dead on arrival at the Lapu-Lapu City District Hospital. He was a resident of Barangay Mactan.

SPO1 Manalito Abellanosa, homicide investigator at the Lapu-Lapu City Police Office, said no one noticed the armed men because their attention was glued to the television at that time.

Police found two empty shells of a .45 caliber pistol and two empty shells of a 9mm pistol from the crime scene.

Abellanosa said they are yet to ascertain the motive of the killing, considering that Momongan was killed in a different barangay.

“Lisod pud ug grudge kay layo ra ba ang ilaha sa nahitaboan,” Abellanosa said.

Police will invite for questions two of Momongan’s friends who were with him at the time of the incident.

Meanwhile, in San Remigio town, a certain Wilmy de la Cruz aka Jaime de la Cruz, 44, succumbed to gunshot wounds late evening Saturday at the wharf in Barangay Hagnaya.

He was on board his Honda XRM motorcycle with plate number 7821-PR to meet someone at the wharf around 10pm when the two unidentified assailants on board another motorcycle blocked his way and shot him several times.

He was taken to the Don Severo Verallo Memorial District Hospital in neighboring Bogo City, but was declared dead on arrival.

Police recovered four empty shells of a .45 caliber pistol and two slugs from an unidentified caliber from the crime scene. A Black Widow .22 magnum revolver with four bullets was also recovered from De la Cruz. Also in his possession were three cellular phones, one yellow green wallet containing P1, 345 cash and identification cards.

Insp. Jose Rovic Villarin, chief of the San Remigio Police, told The FREEMAN that De la Cruz was being tailed by assailants from his residence and he was then shot upon nearing the Hagnaya Bus Terminal, a few meters from the wharf.

Bystanders only described the assailants as having worn baseball caps. No one also managed to take note of the plate number of the motorcycle they used.

Villarin said the main focus of the investigation is De la Cruz’s involvement in the illegal drugs trade.

“Possible nga mura’g wala ni siya ka-remit sa iyang kita,” he said.

De la Cruz was in the station’s watch list for involvement in illegal drugs, second to a certain Arman Tipon-Tipon. The Provincial Police Intelligence Branch arrested Tipon-Tipon two months ago. 

Villarin said they will start the investigation by checking the numbers stored in De la Cruz’ mobile phones. — (FREEMAN)