Man shot dead in Liloan

CEBU, Philippines - A 50-year-old scrap buyer was singing the last song of his life before he was shot dead by an assailant at a videoke house Wednesday afternoon in Ilig Beach Resort, Sitio Tiwasan, Barangay Catarman, Liloan.

Lorenzo Cuizon Baticulon, married, and a resident of Barangay Umapad, Mandaue City, succumbed to multiple gunshot wounds in different parts of his body which caused his immediate death.

The gunman also took the wallet of Baticulon containing P7,000 cash before leaving the scene onboard a Honda Wave motorcycle heading south.

Sr. Insp. Leo Ty, Liloan police chief, said they are now investigating Baticulon’s engagement in scrap buying to see if he had business conflicts.

Baticulon was with his wife, Estrelleta Verano Baticulon, singing at a videoke house around 3:30 p.m. when the gunman suddenly approached them and shot Baticulon several times using a .45 pistol.

Authorities recovered six empty shells of .45 pistol. 

Police investigation revealed that two unidentified men, onboard a motorcycle, were seen at the place a few minutes before midday as if checking the entry and exit. Around 3:30, both came back and shot Baticulon.

Ty said somebody kept on calling Baticulon before and after the incident happened. Police are now tracing the said calls.

“Ang mga anak pud ani kay nakabantay nga mag-alindasay unya dili mahimutang murag dunay problema pero wa lang isulti, (The victim’s children noticed their father seemed restless and bothered by problems but he didn’t divulge any detail.) ” Ty said in a phone interview.

The body was taken to the Maturan Funeral Homes in Barangay Catarman for autopsy examination.  (FREEMAN)