Motorcycle-riding gunmen sow fear in Pangasinan

LINGAYEN, Pangasinan, Philippines – Armed men riding in tandem on motorcycles are again on the loose in the province, and authorities are alarmed about the spate of shooting incidents.

Sixth district provincial board member Alfonso Bince Jr., echoing the sentiments of his fellow officials, called on Senior Superintendent Rosueto Ricaforte, provincial police director, to intensify their drive against criminality, particularly those perpetrated by motorcycle-riding armed men.

“The police should act to solve these killings or even prevent them from happening,” Bince said. “They should exhaust all means, even drastic measures, to arrest the suspects.”

Bince said if these shooting incidents continue, these would send a chilling effect among Pangasinenses.

“Pangasinan is a peaceful place to live in. So I urge the police to solve these incidents promptly,” he said.

Last Wednesday, two persons were killed in separate shooting incidents. Farmer Noel Natino, 44, was shot dead with a caliber .45 pistol by motorcycle-riding men wearing ski masks as he was leaving his house in Barangay Libsong, Sta. Maria town.

Tricycle driver Zaldy Vinluan, 42, was also killed by motorcycle-riding men in San Quintin town. His five-year-old son and 17-year-old helper were unharmed.

Last Tuesday, 38-year-old Jose Fortes was shot twice in the abdomen while he was on his way home in Barangay Labney, San Jacinto town. Also that day, 42-year-old Fermin Ysan was shot and wounded.

The previous day, two farmers, Artemio Gali, 48, and Temoteo Dionio, 50, were gunned down in this capital town by attackers on board two motorcycles.

Also last Monday, PO2 John Arvin Jacob, 35, an intelligence operative of the Urdaneta City police, was gunned down by two men on a motorcycle while he was on his way to conduct surveillance work.