Masiao eyed in farmer's death

CEBU, Philippines - A farmer was gunned down inside his own house on Tuesday night while tallying numbers of a three-digit game locally known as masiao.

Joselito Callente, 38, of Sitio Babag 2, Barangay Babag, Cebu City, was shot dead inside his sari-sari store at around 7 p.m. while computing bets for the illegal numbers game.

Callente was with his 38-year-old wife, Marilyn, when two unidentified gunmen onboard a red motorcycle pulled up in front of them.

The back rider reportedly rushed inside the victim’s store and shot him pointblank.

After the first gunman shot the victim, the motorcycle driver, who was also armed with a handgun of an unidentified caliber, positioned himself in front and shot the victim again through the the store’s screen.

Callente died on the spot while his wife stood shocked a few meters from the victim.

The gunmen immediately fled towards Balamban town.

Police recovered from the crime scene two empty shells from a 9mm, two more from a caliber .45, and a slug of an undetermined caliber.

Investigators said they are eyeing the possibility that the victim was killed because of his involvement in illegal numbers operations in the area.

Neighbors of the victim described Callente as a good man who had no bad record in the barangay. – (FREEMAN)