3 dead in separate shooting incidents over the weekend

CEBU, Philippines - Two persons died after they were shot by two unidentified men while on board a motorcycle in Barangay Arpili, Balamban, at around 5:40 in the afternoon last Sunday.

Eusibio Lugay, 39, of Barangay Biasong, succumbed to two gunshot wounds in the chest which caused his immediate death while Clifford Tan, 45, of Barangay Sta. Cruz, also succumbed to two gunshot wounds to his left abdomen and thigh.

Tan was primarily rushed to the Balamban Provincial Hospital and was later transferred to the Vicente Sotto Memorial Medical Center where he was declared dead on arrival.

Police are now pursuing illegal drugs as motive of the killing based on several drug paraphernalia they recovered inside the U-box of the Honda XRM motorcycle bearing plate number 7600CS and driven by Tan.

Lugay and Tan were reportedly heading home from Toledo City when the incident happened.

SPO1 Jose Villarino, homicide chief, said the victims passed through the Arpili bridge when the two assailants on board a motorcycle overtook them. It was the man in pillion who then drew a handgun and shot at them.

Villarino suspected that the assailants planned the crime as they knew what time the victims would pass by the bridge.

“Nag-atang na daan ang motor unya ni-overtake una pa namusil ang back rider, (The men onboard the motorcycle were waiting. Upon overtaking, the back rider shot the victims.) ” the investigator said in a phone interview.

Assailants were only identified as wearing black jackets.

Police recovered in the scene four empty shells of .45 pistol and one deformed slug believed to be from the handgun used by the assailants.

Meanwhile, A 50-year-old man was shot while attending a fiesta at Sitio Maycan, barangay Lawis, San Remigio, last Sunday afternoon.

The victim was identified as Eleazar Bulique, married, and a resident of barangay Looc, San Remigio.

Initial investigation conducted by responding policemen revealed that the victim was attending a fiesta in Sitio Maycan when the suspect suddenly shot him using an alleged cal. 45 pistol.

The suspect immediately fled after the incident but was identified by the witnesses as Roy Sinangote, a resident of barangay Lawis, San Remigio. He was later arrested.

 San Remi gio police officers, led by SPO1 Jovanne Placencia, brought the victim to the Cebu Provincial Hospital in Bogo City, where the victim was declared dead on arrival by the attending physician due to a single gunshot wound at the left portion of his head.

Police investigation further revealed that the victim and suspect allegedly had a heated argument in the said fiesta that they both attended.

Sinangote is now temporarily detained at the San Remigio police station awaiting the filing of appropriate charges.  (FREEMAN)