3 killed in shootings, hacking

CEBU, Philippines - Three people died of shooting and hacking incidents in Cebu recently.

Catalino “Limbert” Alcontin, 39, was shot dead by a certain “Ban-ban” Friday evening in Barangay Basak San Nicolas, Cebu City.

Alcontin was reportedly standing next to a water vending machine at an alley in Sitio Kalubihan when he got shot without any provocation. The victim managed to run but fell down several meters away from his house while the suspect disappeared.

Paramedics from the Emergency Rescue Unit Foundation responded but declared the victim dead even before he could be transported to the hospital because of the gunshot wound on his chest.

Homicide investigators are still trying to identify the real name of the gunman.

A trisikad driver was also shot dead by an unidentified man yesterday morning in Tabada St. Barangay Mambaling, Cebu City.

The victim, identified as Arnel Maybanting, 27, was reportedly watching television near the road when an unidentified person shot him on the left side of his forehead.

The unidentified gunman immediately rode a waiting motorcycle and fled.

Homicide investigator, SPO4 Alex Dacua, said the victim’s mother, Alicia Polistico, told them that her son may have been killed because of his alleged involvement in illegal drugs.

In the town of Ginatilan, Cebu, 42-year-old Edwin Cardiente died after he was hacked several times by his neighbor, Efren Bilagantol, 40, in Barangay Guiwanon last Friday afternoon.

Cardiente and Bilagantol, both farmers, were having a drinking session when a heated argument occurred between the two at around 5 pm resulting to a fist fight. Cardiente was defeated during the fight and threatened to kill the suspect.

Both the victim and the suspect ran to get their bolo at their respective homes but the latter was quicker. Bilangol hacked Cardiente to death before he could get his bolo.

The victim was rushed to the Malabuyoc District Hospital where he was declared dead on arrival while the suspect was arrested by police.

Police believe that the victim and the suspect already had a long-standing grudge and resurfaced during their drinking session. —Niña G. Sumacot and Russell Mae L. Ego-ogan, USJ-R Masscom intern/FPL (FREEMAN)