CEBU, Philippines - Three people were shot dead in separate incidents in the province last Sunday.
Randy Estrada, 30, died after he was shot allegedly by Ernesto Pasaporte, a 60-year-old barangay tanod, past 5 p.m. in Sitio Adelfa, Barangay Lupo, Barili after the latter suspected that the victim was gossiping about him.
Police Officer 2 Gilbert Encabo, desk officer of Barili Police Station, said that on Sunday, Randy Estrada, Dindo Estrada, Joseph Bayno and Jason Avecencia were drinking at the latter’s house.
The group were reportedly joking around and sharing stories. However, their neighbor, Pasaporte, was not happy about their discussions.
Pasaporte appeared before them and asked the group if he was the topic of their discussion to which the four men denied.
Pasaporte allegedly left but the victim followed him to explain further.
A few minutes after, Dindo, Bayno, and Avecencia heard what seemed to be a gunshot apparently coming from the suspect’s house.
The three men went to check and saw the victim covered with blood.
Estrada was rushed to the Barili District Hospital where he was declared dead on arrival.
The suspect fled away after the incident but later surrendered to Barangay Councilor Agapito Avecencia.
Meanwhile, a man who was sleeping in the veranda of their house was shot dead by an unidentified gunman past 6 a.m. Sunday in Barangay Duangan, Balamban town.
Alvin Cambista, 21, succumbed to a gunshot wound to his head.
Initial investigation revealed that the victim was sleeping with his brother and cousin at the veranda when an unidentified suspect shot him in the head.
His brother and cousin were awakened by the sound of the gunshot and when they saw the victim, he was already covered with blood.
Cambista was immediately brought to the Cebu Provincial Hospital in Balamban but was declared dead by the attending physician.
In a separate incident, a 34-year-old man died after he was shot by a riding-in-tandem in Barangay San Roque, Asturias town past 5 p.m. on Sunday.
Jover Rivera, 34, of Bolinawan, Balamban town, was declared dead after he was rushed to Asturias Infirmary.
Police investigation revealed that the victim was standing at the roadside when two unidentified persons wearing helmets stopped near him.
The back rider then pulled out a gun and shot the victim several times, hitting him in the body.
Police are still investigating the incident. (FREEMAN)