Gambling ‘tipster’ gunned down

ILOILO CITY , Philippines  — A former illegal gambling bet collector was murdered Tuesday evening inside his own home at Brgy. Simon Ledesma in Jaro district of this city.

Edgar Aptingo, 54, who was also believed to be a police informant on illegal gambling, succumbed to multiple gunshot wounds on the different parts of his body.

Witnesses claimed that Aptingo was sitting with his back on the door when the two hitmen, armed with hand guns, entered the victim’s house and, without any words, peppered him with bullets and then fled on foot.

Chief Insp. Gilbert Gorero, Jaro Police chief, said Aptingo’s house is situated in a row of illegal settlers. One has to pass by a narrow alley before reaching the house with its door, a step away from the foot walk. A few meters from the house is the main road where the gunmen’s scooter was parked.

Gorero said Aptingo’s child witnessed the incident but could not give a clear description of the assailants. The victim was rushed to the West Visayas State University Medical Center but died along the way.

Recovered from the crime scene were five empty shells of .40-caliber and an empty shell of .45-caliber pistol, said the  police adding that before the incident, the two gunmen were seen in the area, probably casing the victim. Only last month, Aptingo was arrested after he was caught collecting bets for a “bookies” game.  He was incarcerated but was released after posting bail bond.

Some neighbors however believed that Aptingo was killed not because of his being a bet collector but because he was suspected to have tipped the police on the illegal gambling activities in his village. (FREEMAN)