Truck driver killed in ambush

CEBU, Philippines - A driver of a 10-wheeler truck was killed after he was shot several times in an ambush along S. Osmeña Boulevard, near the corner of V. Sotto Street in Barangay Tinago, Cebu City Thursday night.

Edgardo Cadayday Jr., a native of Santa Catalina, Negros Oriental, suffered gunshot wounds to different parts of his body after he was gunned down by an unidentified man.

Senior Police Officer 2 Rommel Bancog, investigator of the Homicide Section of the Cebu City Police Office, said that according to a witness, prior to the incident, she noticed two men on a blue motorcycle in the area.

Bancog said at that time, Cadayday was alone driving the Isuzu 10-wheeler-truck loaded with sacks of soybean and was heading towards Naga City.

At around 10:45 p.m., when Cadayday stopped for a red light along S. Osmeña Boulevard, the backrider of the blue motorcycle shot the victim several times.

Bancog said even with gunshot wounds, Cadayday was still able to drive the truck away for a few minutes but he later went unconscious as the truck continued running.

He said bystanders tried to make the bus stop by throwing stones until one of them was able to enter the truck to stop it.

“Naabot gyud to luyo sa CTU (Cebu Technological University),” said Bancog, adding it took almost 200 meters before the truck was stopped.

Bancog said minutes after, personnel from the Emergency Rescue Unit Foundation arrived but the victim was already dead with around five gunshot wounds to different parts of his body.  Police from the Waterfront Police Station were able to find five pieces of empty shells and one deformed slug from a 9mm pistol.

Bancog said as of last night, they still could not determine the motive of the crime since no one from Cebu was able to know the background of Cadayday.

“Apil pud to ang tag-iya sa 10-wheeler truck, wa pa kaayo kaila niya kay bag-o pa kuno siya nagtrabaho diha,” he said, adding they have already spoken with Cadayday’s wife, but could not get a statement from her on the possible enemies of the victim since the wife was still emotional.

Bancog said they will continue with their investigation to pin down the criminals and to know the motive of the crime.— Ma. Fatima R. Secuya/ATO (FREEMAN)