Two men investigated on death of American

CEBU, Philippines - The Provincial Investigation and Detective Management Branch of the Provincial Police Office is now investigating two people in connection to the killing of American national Stephen Ray Gornto in Dalaguete town.

Gornto, 53, was shot to death outside his house Thursday afternoon.

Sr. Insp. Ramil Morpos, PIDMB investigator, told The FREEMAN that based on accounts of witnesses, a woman who could be the lookout was seen at the area. The gunman arrived and left the crime scene on a motorcycle.

“Prior to the shooting incident dunay babaye dapit sa nahitabuan unya paghuman sa insidente wala na diha unya wala kunoy nakaila adto matud sa taga-didto,” Morpos said.

Morpos also said that prior to his fight with British national Andrew Featherstonehaugh, 53, the victim also figured in another fistfight with another foreign national. Police are still not discounting the possibility that the killing had something to do with the victim’s fight with Featherstonehaugh.

The PIDMB is investigating the case alongside the Dalaguete police.

As part of the investigation, PIDMB took the mobile phone of Gornto and submitted the same to the Digital Forensic Laboratory so that the messages therein can be extracted and examined.

Gornto, a retired member of the Special Forces of United States of America, succumbed to multiple gunshot wounds in different parts of his body after he was gunned down by the assailant. Thirteen empty shells and a slug of an unknown caliber of firearm were recovered from the crime scene.

He was rushed to the Julio Cardinal Rosales Memorial Hospital in Barangay Poblacion, Dalaguete but did not make it alive.

The assailant reportedly wore a helmet, a white sweatshirt, and cargo pants. He reportedly sped off towards Argao town after shooting the victim.

The Cebu Provincial Police Office is scheduled to have a case conference with the Dalaguete police on Monday to discuss the case.

“Di porke’t foreigner siya mag-create na dayun ta… ato usa i-assess ang situation kay kung ingon ana kadali mag-create ug task group basin tanang kaso naa na unyay task group but the  PIDMB is helping the (Dalaguete police),” Gillamac said when asked if a task force will be created for the case.  (FREEMAN)