2 killed, 1 wounded in Talisay attack

CEBU, Philippines - Two men were killed and one other was wounded after eight masked men attacked them while they were catching mudfish in the middle of a rice field in barangay Mohon, Talisay City yesterday morning.

Killed on the spot were Welkres Camingawan, 28, and Victor Labarejos, both residents of sitio Crusher, barangay Lawaan III. The two succumbed to gunshot and hack wounds in different parts of their bodies.

Meanwhile, Jeffrey Capino sustained a hack wound on his lower leg, but managed to escape and hide at a house nearby.

The victims’ three other companions – Dandy Magdadaro, Jacky Alcover and Longlong Nacario – also evaded death.

Initial police investigation revealed that the victims and their three companions started catching mudfish locally known as “halwan” with the use of battery-powered stun guns around 10am.

Moments later, eight masked men arrived and without provocation started shooting at them. Camingawan was the first one hit on the stomach and the back of his head.

The rest immediately ran for their lives but in what seemed to be a case of bad luck, Labarejos ran into the assailants’ lookout who shot him and hacked him on the neck and left shoulder.

One attacker also caught up with Capino and hacked him on the legs but Capino still managed to evade subsequent attacks. He was later rushed to the Talisay District Hospital but was later transferred to the Vicente Sotto Memorial Medical Center in Cebu City.

Talisay Police Chief Henry Binas said the motive of the attack was unclear as of yesterday. The police also started getting the testimonies of the four survivors yesterday.

Binas said it is possible that there are residents living near the area that witnessed the incident. The rice field is privately owned but the owner reportedly allows other residents to catch mudfish there.

Dario Villaver, barangay captain of Mohon, said he believes that the suspects are not from his barangay.

Labarejos, who worked as a carpenter, left behind eight children while Camingawan left three young ones.

Meanwhile, in the northern city of Danao, a 47-year-old butcher was shot to death by two unidentified assailants in barangay Poblacion dawn the other day.

Felix Nelson Casas Toledo, married, a resident of barangay Looc, Danao City sustained gunshot wounds on his left arm, chest and abdomen.

Investigation revealed that the victim was maneuvering a tricycle when two unidentified men on board a motorcycle blocked his way. One of the two then pulled out a gun and shot Toledo.

SPO3 Ariestio Espina of the Danao City police said one of the two suspects has been arrested but the name would be withheld while investigation is ongoing.

Toledo’s remains lie at the Cosmopolitan Funeral Parlor in barangay Poblacion, Danao City. — Liv G. Campo and Christopher Gabriel C. Bonjoc/JMO   (THE FREEMAN)