2 dead in shootings at Tabogon and San Fernando

CEBU, Philippines - In a span of five hours, two persons were shot dead, including a security guard of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), in Tabogon and San Fernando.

Jonathan Pepito, 39, of Barangay Bagtik, San Remigio and security guard of the DENR in Carmen town, was shot dead by unidentified assailant 7:00 p.m. Wednesday along the national highway in Sitio Colonia, Barangay Ilihan, Tabogon.

Pepito was just seen by motorists slumped on the road and in a pool of blood with his Kawasaki motorcycle.  He succumbed to three gunshot wounds in the head and in the buttocks which caused his immediate death.

Police investigation disclosed that Pepito was last seen by motorists in Sitio Lamac, Barangay Ilihan and was traveling home before he was shot dead.

PO3 Jesus Suan, the investigator, said they are now investigating the alleged illicit love affair of Pepito to a married woman based on the text messages they found on his cellular phone.

Suan said they are also not discounting other possible angles but they are giving attention to the “affair” as motive.

“Diha pay sigeg panawag sa iyang cellphone anang pagpusil niya unya babaye murag magkita pa unta ni sila,” Suan said in a phone interview. (A woman kept calling her before he was shot. It seems they had planned to meet.)

The body was subjected for an autopsy.

Meanwhile, a man was shot dead by his uncle at midnight yesterday in Sitio Tagaytay, Barangay Balu-ngag, San Fernando.

Jonathan Gantuangco, 24, a laborer, succumbed to three gunshot wounds in the head.

He was rushed to the Carcar Provincial Hospital and was later referred to the Vicente Sotto Memorial Medical Center in Cebu City but was declared dead around 2:00 a.m.

Suspects Nelson Gantuangco Sr., 50, and Noel Locsin, 42, remain at large. (FREEMAN)