2 killed, two injured in shooting incidents

CEBU, Philippines - Two were killed and another two were injured in separate shooting incidents in Talisay City Wednesday.

The first incident, which took place in Noel Boulevard, a private resort in barangay Poblacion at around 11:20PM, was a drive-by shooting which resulted to the death of Rogelio "Pido" Mendoza, 17 and resident of the place.

Mendoza, who sustained gunshot wounds in his left chest, was rushed to the Talisay District Hospital but was declared dead on arrival.

Meanwhile, 39-year-old Rey Torcide Basmayor's right ear was badly wounded after it was hit by a bullet, while Anthony Salbado Delima, 24, also sustained a gunshot wound in the abdomen.

The two were also brought to the TDH but were immediately transferred to the Vicente Sotto Memorial Medical Center in Cebu City for treatment.

Based on the initial investigation conducted by the city police, the three were watching a card game when two unidentified men on board a motorcycle appeared and the passenger at the back shot Mendoza.

The bullet supposedly meant for Mendoza however reportedly ricocheted through Basmayor's ear and landed at Delima's abdomen.

The gunman and his cohort then sped away from the scene, and several meters away the former reportedly fired shots in the air.

Police recovered from the crime scene two empty shells of a .45 caliber pistol.

Supt. Henry Biñas, Talisay City Police Station chief, said the incident could be linked to fraternity-related hostilities.

He said that based on the investigation, the murdered victim was a member of the frat-group Alpha Kappa Rho.

The past few months, it was reported that a minor believed to be member of a frat group allegedly hit a Tau Gamma member with an empty bottle after the latter and his friends allegedly beat him and his friends while they were drinking at the beach area in Poblacion.

Police are still however looking for other angles that could have motivated the suspects to gun down Mendoza and his friends.

Hours before that drive-by shooting, a 35-year-old man was shot dead at 9:10 a.m. while aboard a trisikad in sitio Kilawan, barangay Tanke of the same city.

Police identified the victim as Jessie Maribao, of sitio Tunga, Tanke.

Maribao sustained a gunshot wound at the back part of his head. He reportedly did not reach TDH.

Based on the investigation conducted by the homicide team led by PO3 Mikie Espina, Maribao was on his way home on a trisikad driven by Edwin Urongan when an unidentified man appeared from nowhere and shot him.

Espina said because of fear, Urongan left his trisikad and sought help.

Maribao's common-law wife, Mylene Torion, 31, said the victim had been receiving threats in the past already. She however refused to give details about the threats.

Torion was arrested by the Provincial Anti-Illegal Drugs Special Operation Task Group (PAIDSOTG) for allegedly selling illegal drugs.

Biñas said involvement in drugs is one of the angles they are now looking into. (FREEMAN)