Lawyer's son gunned down

DUMAGUETE CITY , Philippines – A 39-year-old son of a lawyer in this city was shot dead yesterday at Barangay Calindagan, which has been one of the hotspots in illegal drugs in the city.

The victim, Nikolai Tolido Hernando, sustained several gunshot wounds in different parts of his body and was declared dead on arrival at the Silliman University Medical Center. He became the 24th victim of a series of shootings here this year.

Investigations showed Hernando, a resident of Barangay Taclobo, brought his child to school early morning on his black Kawasaki motorcycle before going to purok Mutya of sitio Canday-ong in Calindagan.

A few meters from the road, a lone gunman, described to be in his 20s, fired at Hernando who in turn ran towards the houses in the area. The assailant however caught up with him and fired several shots at him, using a .45-caliber pistol.

Recovered from the crime scene were five spent shells of .45-caliber pistol, a misfired bullet and the victim's motorcycle that was parked at the artery road in purok Mutya.