4 shot dead, 1 wounded in Tarlac

CAMP OLIVAS, Pampanga, Philippines  – Four persons were killed while another one was seriously wounded when six unidentified armed men who introduced themselves as policemen successively fired at them in Barangay Nagmisaan, Paniqui, Tarlac, Friday.

In his report to Chief Superintendent Leon Nilo de la Cruz, Central Luzon police director, Senior Superintendent Rudy Lacadin, Tarlac police provincial director, identified the fatalities as Graciano Miguel y Valdez, 76; Jhon Martin y Miguel, 29; Marlon Bautista, 20; and Raymondo Bautista Jr., 41; all residents of Barangay Nagmi­saan, Paniqui town.

Wounded and still under medical treatment at the CILD Hospital in Tarlac City due to multiple gunshot wounds was identified as Maque Martin, 23, also from said barangay.

Lacadin said that at about 6:30 a.m. Friday, the suspects armed with caliber .45 and caliber 9mm pistols in civilian clothes introduced themselves as policemen reportedly to serve a search warrant to Jhon Martin.

He said the other victims who were neighbors of Martin went inside the house of the latter to observe but once inside, the suspects started to shoot the victims successively.

Four of the victims died on the spot due to gunshot wounds in the different parts of the body, said Lacadin.

After the incident, the suspects boarded their dark blue vehicle without plate number and fled towards the north direction.

A dragnet operation was immediately launched by Tarlac police for the arrest of the fleeing suspects.

Police recovered several spent shells for caliber .45 and 9mm pistols at the scene of the crime. – Ric Sapnu