Teacher killed, daughter hurt

BACOLOD CITY, Philippines  — A 64-year-old public school teacher, who was due to retire from government service, was killed, while his daughter was injured, when they were shot by two men Tuesday night in Victorias City, police said.

Romeo Valle, a teacher of the Estado Elementary School, succumbed to a gunshot wound in the back that exited through his heart, said Supt. Alexander Muñoz, Victorias Police officer-in-charge.

Valle was declared dead on arrival at the Ika-ayong Lawas Foundation Hospital in Victorias City, while his daughter, Joy Mar, 24, sustained a gunshot wound in the back, with the bullet exiting from the left side of her breast.

Joy Mar, however, was reported to be in stable condition now after being treated in a private hospital in Bacolod, Muñoz said.

Investigations of the Victorias Police stated that Valle and his daughter were riding a motorcycle on their way home to Brgy. Estado when they were hailed to stop by two unidentified men in Hacienda Minoro of Brgy. 10. 

Instead of stopping, Valle ignored them, prompting one of the suspects to shoot them. Despite his injuries, Valle managed to drive the motorcycle towards a populated area, where he and his daughter sought help, before he died, said Muñoz.

The police said the two assailants may have intended to rob the victims, citing the occurrences of hold-up incidents in the area in previous years. (FREEMAN)