Father, 2 sons shot dead in Balamban

CEBU, Philippines - A member of the Lupong Tagapamayapa of barangay Prensa in Balamban town and his two sons died after two unidentified men in bonnets shot them in their house last Sunday evening.

The fatalities were identified as Macario Lumayno, 70 and his sons Melvin, 26, and Jomar, 30. The three lived barangay Cantuod, a neighboring barangay of Prensa. Melvin was a trisikad driver while Jomar was a technician.

SPO3 Allan Patalinghug, officer-in-charge of the Balamban police station, said it appeared that the suspects were already waiting for Melvin, as the victim was shot shortly after he arrived and disembarked from his tricycle.  

Even after getting hit, Melvin still reportedly managed to run to the back of their house and pleaded for the suspects not to kill him.

“Nakasinggit paman gani ang biktima ug ‘ayaw ko’g tiwasi’,” Patalinghug said.

Macario and Joel, who heard the gunshots while having dinner inside the house, immediately went out to check on the commotion but were also shot.

Policemen recovered a magazine of .45 cal. pistol and empty shells from the crime scene.

Cebu Provincial Police Office director Carmelo Valmoria said Jomar might have tried to grab the gun from one of the assailants, as gunpowder burns and a gunshot wound were found on his hand.

“I do believe naa’y scuffle during sa incident kay naa may mga powder burns si Jomar ug buslot sa iyang kamot,” Valmoria said.

Information gathered by the police revealed that Melvin was earlier accused of allegedly touching the private parts of a 16-year-old girl and was reported to to berserk whenever he was drunk.

Last month, Melvin’s other brother was also killed in Tuburan, allegedly after he sexually molested a young girl.

Valmoria said further investigation would be conducted to determine the real motive of the killing. — Christopher Gabriel C. Bonjoc/JMO   (THE FREEMAN)