Two killed in Carcar shooting

CEBU, Philippines - Two died including an alleged gun-for-hire in a shooting incident a few minutes before 9:00 in the morning yesterday at the rotunda in Barangay Poblacion I, Carcar City.

Declared dead on arrival at the Carcar City Provincial Hospital was 50-year-old Mario Gilberto Gadiano of Sitio Cambuntan, Barangay Bolinawan. He succumbed to a gunshot wound, the bullet exiting the right side of his face.

His assailant, who remained unidentified, also died after shot by Cebu City intelligence operative, Insp. William Alicaba who happened to be at the area during the incident.

The assailant was also declared dead on arrival at the same hospital.

Police recovered a .380 pistol with one magazine loaded with 14 bullets, a 9mm pistol with one magazine loaded with seven bullets, an ATM card and Gadiano’s picture from the assailant.  Aside from that, one empty shell and one slug of 9mm were also found in the scene.

Alicaba was on board his multicab (YGT-183) and about to buy a medicine at a drug store. He was about to park his vehicle when he heard successive bursts of gunfire from a few meters away.

It was at this point when the assailant shot at Gadiano who was on board his blue multicab (MBR-918).

The assailant was reportedly on board a Yamaha Vega motorcycle with no plate number.

Police instinct pushed Alicaba to do his job. He took his firearm and responded to the alarm.

Alicaba shouted, identifying himself as a policeman, and fired once at the fleeing assailant.

The assailant reportedly drove his motorcycle about 80 to 100 meters away from the scene before he slumped on the road.

“Nagtuo gani ko nga nakaigo kog laing tao kay wala man siya malup-og dayon nakapadagan pa man,” Alicaba told The FREEMAN. (I thought I hurt someone else because he did not fall immediately, he was still able to run.)

Alicaba rushed to take the assailant’s 9mm pistol.

“Ako pa siyang gipangutana sa iyang ngalan ug kung si kinsa ang gasugo niya pero wala na katingong, nagtinga na,” Alicaba said in a phone interview. (I asked him who he was and who sent him, but he was not able to talk anymore.)

SPO3 Jorame Tanudtanud, Carcar City investigator, said they are still investigating the incident and determining the identity of the assailant.

Initially, police revealed that Gadiano received death threats two months ago.

“So far wala mi nahibaw-an nga kontra niya kay maayo man gud niya si nga tao pero ang gapusil ongoing among pag-track sa identity,” Tanudtanud said. (He’s a good person and we could not think of anyone who might have wished him dead, but we’re investigating this.) — (FREEMAN)