Man dead, his daughter hurt in Danao ambush

CEBU, Philippines - A laborer died while his teenage daughter was injured after they were ambushed by an armed man along Cogon Cruz, Danao City, past 5 a.m. yesterday; while a billiard referee was seriously wounded after being shot by a man in Barangay Macaas, Catmon town, Friday night.

Concordio Arenas, 54, died of four gunshot wounds while his 19-year-old daughter Niña Mae was grazed in her left arm.

SPO2 Ildefonso Prosia of the Danao City Police Station said Concordio was driving a motorcycle with his daughter riding pillion when the ambush took place at 5:40 a.m. yesterday.

Prosia said the two passed by an unpopulated area where the man, who had apparently been waiting for them, opened fire.

Concordio was hit in the chest, left arm and chin. 

Niña Mae alleged that after they both fell to the pavement, the assailant walked toward her father and shot him again in the head.

The assailant ran to a nearby sugarcane plantation and disappeared, Prosia said. Police later recovered three empty shells of a .45 cal. pistol from the crime scene.

Prosia said that it was Arenas’ morning routine to take his daughter to the Cebu Mitsumi Industries in Barangay Sabang, Danao City, where she works as a factory worker.

“Posible gitiman-an na sa suspek na anha sila mag-agian mao ‘tong giatangan na siya didtong dapita,” Prosia said in an interview.

Both victims were rushed to the Danao City Provincial Hospital for treatment, but Concordio was declared dead on arrival. Niña Mae is currently recuperating.

Prosia said Concordio’s wife alleged that they won a case involving lot ownership last month, which is being eyed as the possible motive behind the ambush.

Meanwhile, a billiard referee was seriously wounded after he was shot by a man who allegedly got mad at his being noisy at a billiard hall in Barangay Macaas, Catmon, late Friday night.

Police identified the victim as Iezer Binoya, 32, and the fleeing suspect as Wilfredo “Willy” Monterola, 38, a charcoal maker.

Police said prior to the incident, Binoya was at Earl Jorza billiard hall refereeing a billiard game where Monterola was one of the spectators. Allegedly, both were drinking with the other spectators at the hall.

Monterola later left the place and returned already armed with a gun. He then shot the victim in the chest.

Binoya managed to run away but Monterola tried to shoot him again but witnesses said the gun misfired.

The victim was rushed to the Juan Dosado Memorial Hospital in Barangay Dumlog, Sogod town, and was later transferred to a hospital in Cebu City for further treatment.

The suspect fled still armed. Police are now looking for him.

Police learned that the suspect allegedly got irked at the victim for being a noisy referee. (FREEMAN)