Robbers spare girl: Couple shot dead

CEBU, Philippines - The floral printed dress of five-year-old Leanna Nicole Tampus was still bright with the blood of her parents when the police came to get her from a store in Sitio Matab-ang, Barangay Day-as, Cordova town, Sunday night.

Leanna was the sole survivor of a robbery that killed her parents Ranilo Tampus, 33, and his wife Elisa, 38, as they were riding on a motorcycle to Barangay Apas, Cebu City, from their house in Barangay Buagsong, Cordova.

Police Officer 2 Laurencio Aquas said that past 10 p.m. Sunday the couple was blocked by two armed men in along the road.

The men shot Ranilo first, hitting him in the chest, then they shot Elisa in the mouth. She was still able to hug Leanna before the motorcycle fell to the road.

The armed men allegedly told Leanna to turn around and run away. Residents living in the area told police they heard one of the suspects yelling: “Pahawa dinha day, wala kay labot!”

The armed men took the couple’s bag containing between P200,000 to P300,000 cash and valuables, then escaped with the couple’s motorcycle.

Leanna ran and hid in a nearby store. She asked the people there to take her to her grandmother’s house just nearby.

Residents of the area called for police and medical assistance. The couple was rushed to the Lapu-Lapu District Hospital but they were dead on arrival.

Police came and took Leanna to the police station. Investigators also recovered an empty shell and two deformed slugs of a .45 cal. pistol from the crime scene. 

Ranillo worked as a liason officer of a construction company inside the Mactan Air Base in Barangay Pajo, Lapu-Lapu City. The three were heading to Barangay Apas, Cebu City, where Elisa worked as a caretaker for a house during the weekends.

Silent

Relatives of the couple rushed to the police station and took care of the child who had reportedly not said a word since the incident.

Elisa’s sister, who asked not to be identified, said the couple got into an argument with their neighbors early this month about a light bulb.

“They were arguing about a light bulb, that the couple’s neighbor, two men accused them of stealing their light bulb,” she said.

She said Elisa, after being confronted by their landlord, denied the accusation and even showed them the box of a newly-bought light bulb.

She said it is possible the two men they argued with were responsible for the robbery after police allegedly found out they had abandoned their house.

The houses between the couple and the two men were only separated by plywood; the structures were made of light materials and had no walling.

“It is possible too, the two men overheard Ranilo and Elisa’s conversation about the said amount,” she said. As liaison officer, Ranilo allegedly handles the budget for construction needs.

The sister said she has not told her niece that her parents are dead but are only being treated in the hospital.

She had Leanna play with other relatives as a way of calming her, but it was allegedly observed she has not said a word since the incident and only gestured with her hands when asked questions.

She plans for Leanna to be taken in by one of her aunts, but police said they are contacting a social worker to assist the child and her relatives after the incident.

Provincial Intelligence Branch chief, Superintendent Rodolfo Albotra said that he is sending investigators to help the Cordova Police Station identify the robbers. He added that although the primary motive being considered for now is robbery, they cannot discount the fact that there could be another motive like personal grudge. — /BRP (FREEMAN)