Couple shot dead inside their house

CEBU, Philippines — Two elderly couple were shot dead inside their house by an unidentified assailant in what the police believed as a case of land dispute in the mountainous area of Barangay Bae, Sibonga, Cebu early Thursday.

Sibonga Police Station told The FREEMAN that they were able to receive a shooting alarm at around 4 a.m. which they immediately responded to.

Police Colonel Roderick Mariano, Cebu City Provincial Police Office Director, said the incident reportedly happened at around 12 a.m. in the house of the elderly couple.

The victims were allegedly sleeping when an unidentified suspect, who was wearing mask, suddenly barged into their house and shot the victims several times.

"Natutulog sila, pinasok ng mga naka-mask na suspect," Mariano said, quoting the Sibonga Police Station Chief's initial report.

In their initial investigation, authorities said that there was only one suspect who has done the crime.

"Yung mga apo naman ay hindi naman nasaktan," Mariano added.

The couple's grandchildren, aged 12, 14 and 19 years old, had survived the attack since they were able to escape through the windows, according to Mariano.

He added that they were having a hard time gathering the data for the report since the area where the incident happened is isolated in the hinterland part of Sibonga, Cebu.

Initially, Mariano said that they are eyeing land dispute as motive behind the murder. They would still be validating this though.

He also said they also received information that there were several loose firearms around the area of Barangay Bae, Sibonga.

"Nagco-conduct din ng minor operations yung PMFC (Provincial Mobile Force Company) para tignan ang sitwasyon sa barangay," he said.

Mariano has directed the Sibonga Police Station chief to prioritize and determine the unidentified assailant behind the murder.

"Kaya pinatulungan din natin sa PIB din natin at PMFC para mapabilis ang pag-solve ng kaso," Mariano said.

At present, the couple's grandchildren will be undergoing stress debriefing because of trauma after they are interviewed regarding the case.  GAN (FREEMAN)