No "rubout" in murder of 2 resort workers -PNP

DUMAGUETE CITY, Philippines  – Police in Bacong, Negros Oriental have assured the public that the shooting-to-death of a scuba diver-cum-tour guide and a security guard of a dive resort was not a rubout even as investigators have tagged one of the victims as a suspect in a number of crime cases in that town.

Señor Insp. Edilberto Diocades, Bacong Police chief, said his investigators are now considering a couple of angles in the deaths of Marlon Doño, 34, married, a resident of Purok Sunflower at sitio Canday-ong in Brgy. Calindagan, Dumaguete City, and Stanley Torres, 27, single, of sitio Salngan in Brgy. Mayabon of Zamboanguita town in Negros Oriental.

Among these angles are a possible love triangle or the work of a vigilant citizen or citizens attempting to prevent another break-in, said Diocades.

Diocades said Torres was identified by intelligence operatives as a suspect in previous crimes perpetrated in Bacong, such as theft of fighting cocks or “akyat-bahay” (break-in) incidents. Torres, however, had no single pending case against him at the time of his death.

The police official said a rubout was not highly likely, as personal belongings of the two victims were still untouched when responding policemen arrived at the crime scene in Bacong.

Investigators, meanwhile, have been trailing some possible suspects but Diocades said police are withholding their identities to avoid compromising the ongoing investigation.

Doño and Torres, who worked for a dive resort in Mayabon, Zamboanguita, were riding a motorcycle around 11:40 p.m., Tuesday when they were shot by two unidentified men, riding on another motorcycle, at a dark and remote area in Brgy. Combado of Bacong.

Investigation showed that Torres, who was driving the motorcycle, sustained four gunshot wounds on his body while Doño, riding in tandem with him, was shot three times on the back. Both died on the spot.

Bacong Police and Scene of the Crime operatives could not determine the type of firearm used in the attack, as all the bullet wounds were through and through. They were also unable to retrieve spent shells or slugs from the crime scene.

Diocades said the brother of Torres had told investigators the security guard was allegedly involved in a recent argument with a purported “third party,” which led police to believe a love triangle was a possible motive.

On the other hand, the police chief said the killings could be perpetrated by unknown, irate individuals in Bacong who may have wanted to prevent another burglary, Diocades added.