Farmer shot dead in Pangasinan

VILLASIS, Pangasinan – A 58-year-old farmer was shot dead by a hooded armed man while the former was sleeping at a wake Friday night in barangay Pias here, a belated report reaching the Pangasinan PNP provincial office said.

Police identified the fatality as Robinson Tugare of said place who succumbed to multiple bullet wounds in the body.

Investigation showed that Tugare was then sleeping on a chair at the wake of the late Conrado Orial Sr. when the still unidentified suspect approached the victim and with no apparent reason shot him several times.

The victim who sustained bullet wounds in the body was rushed by responding policemen to the Polymedic Hospital and Trauma Center where he was declared dead on arrival.

The suspect fled on foot after the shooting.

Recovered at the scene were four spent shells for caliber .45 pistol.

Moreover, three suspected members of the Budol-Budol gang were arrested by police authorities in Poblacion, Manaoag on Friday.

Superintendent Mateo Casupang, Manaoag chief of police, identified the three suspects as Marites Lazo, 35; Rosalie Nayo, 31; and Aida Balayo, 32; all residents of Barangay Lasip Grande, Dagupan City.

Casupang told The STAR that the three were arrested after a victim, Erlinda Cortez, reported to the police.

He said a follow-up operation resulted to the arrest of the three women.

Casupang said two male companions and another woman eluded arrest.

Confiscated from the three arrested suspects were four pieces of fake gold rings, a fake gold necklace with pendant and a cellular telephone.   

The three were placed under police custody as appropriate charges are being readied for filing against them.

Casupang said four other swindling victims also showed up at the police station and positively identified some of the suspects.  – Cesar Ramirez