What should have been a merry celebration of a fiesta in barangay Sto. Niño, Toledo City last Sunday turned out to be deadly for a 38-year-old man who was shot by one of three unidentified men for no apparent reason.
Police identified the fatality as Esmeraldo "Andot" Madraga, a resident of barangay Arpili in Balamban town who was with his friends in his father's residence to celebrate the feast.
Madraga died on the spot after he was hit in the forehead and in another part of his body.
Witnesses told the police that one of the three unidentified assailants approached Madraga and shot him.
SPO1 Praxilo Albiso of the Toledo City Police Station said the victim had just arrived from Balamban Sunday afternoon for the fiesta celebration of the said barangay where his father lives.
The victim also met his friends in the said place; among them was identified as Jose Badayos. Afterwhich, they decided to have a drink. Few hours later that evening, the perpetrators approached and shot Madraga.
For fear of their lives, his friends scampered for safety while the perpetrators hurriedly left the place.
Police found two empty shells of .45 caliber bullets at the crime scene, near the body of the victim.
Investigators are still conducting a probe on the identities of the assailants, including possible previous grudges that might have caused the shooting. - Edwin Ian Melecio/MEEV