Engineer shot dead in robbery

CEBU, Philippines – An engineer working in one of the firms inside the Mactan Export Processing Zone 2 was shot dead by one of the three robbers who preyed on the jeepney that the victim was riding on his way to work in Maximo Patalingjug, barangay Basak, Lapu-Lapu City last Friday night.

Police said the perpetrators were only supposed to be after the earnings of PUJ driver Rowen Guinita Colonia but 25-year-old Rexel Gonzales allegedly hurriedly disembarked and tried to flee, prompting the robbers to follow him.

After they caught up with Gonzales, the robbers allegedly demanded for the victim’s bag but he resisted. One of the culprits then shot him in the head killing him instantly.

Gonzales, single, an Electronics Communications Engineer (ECE), is a native of Kabanayan Bulaob, Talisay City but was renting a room in Sangi Crossing, Lapu-Lapu City to near to his workplace.

He was working in Teradyne, an export company, based in MEPZ 2 in barangay Basak, Lapu-Lapu City.

PO1 John Philip of the Homicide Section of Lapu-Lapu City police said that based on accounts of some witnesses, Gonzales flagged down the multicab near his boarding house while the three robbers rode the same vehicle near a gasoline station.

Colonia narrated that while he was driving, the three armed robbers suddenly pointed a gun at him and told him, “Ayaw og palag, tulis ni. Pamugas lang ning amo.”

But upon noticing what was going on, Gonzales allegedly hurriedly disembarked and tried to flee.

Responding policemen recovered a cell phone, i-pod, USB, cash of undetermined amount and IDs inside the victim’s sling bag.

Lapu-Lapu City police immediately conducted manhunt operation but failed to catch up with the suspects. — Johanna T. Natavio/WAB (THE FREEMAN)