"Pusher" shot, bystander also hit

CEBU, Philippines - A man suspected to be involved in illegal drugs is currently fighting for his life after he was shot several times by another man yesterday afternoon in Barangay Tejero.

Royal Castillo, 29, resident of the area, sustained gunshot wounds to the head and body after Jerbie Sianson, of legal age, and resident of Sitio Immaculada in the same barangay, fired at him while he was walking on his way home.

Aside from Castillo, Cesar Gadiano, 59, who just happened to be in the area during the incident, also landed at the hospital after he was hit by a stray bullet.

PO2 Edario Manatad of the Homicide Section said the victim was walking in the interior portion of Sitio Sampaguita at past noon when the suspect, who was armed with a gun, suddenly appeared and shot him without any provocation.

The victim was fatally hit to the head and left side of the body and was rushed by residents to the Perpetual Soccour Hospital while the suspect fled on foot and remains at large.

A bullet that exited from Castillo’s body hit Gadiano to the left thigh.

Gadiano was taken to the Cebu City Medical Center and is already in a stable condition.

Two empty shells of caliber .9mm pistol were recovered from the crime scene.

Manatad said they are eyeing illegal drugs as the motive behind the incident.

Police explained both the victim and the suspect already have previous criminal records for involvement in shooting incidents in the barangay some time last year.

Meanwhile, in Moalboal town, a motorcycle-for-hire driver was shot dead in Barangay Poblacion West about 9:20 p.m. Saturday.

Roel Alquizalas, 23, of Barangay Tuble sustained two fatal gunshot wounds and was declared dead on arrival at Barili District Hospital.

The two mask-wearing suspects immediately fled on board a motorcycle.

Police said Alquizalas was buying water in the Automatic Tubig Machine (ATM) at the roadside when the suspects stopped behind him.

The back rider suddenly disembarked from the motorcycle and shot Alquizalas once in the head causing him to collapse on the road. Residents who saw the incident scampered away for fear.

While Alquizalas was lying supine on the road, the gunman shot him again to the chest before returning to the waiting motorcycle and fled.

Witnesses said the suspects were wearing bonnets and jackets, slim built, and about 5”6’ to 5” 8’ tall.

Responding police officers recovered a slug from unknown caliber of firearm on the road while another slug was found inside the ATM box.

SPO2 Edgar Labe said Alquizalas was a member of Akrho fraternity, an active informant of the police with regards to drug activities in the municipality and he was also detained for getting involved in several troubles in the area.

“Among gianam-anam iyang background aron ma-check namo kung kinsa’y iyang bag-ong kontra ron,” Labe told The FREEMAN. – (FREEMAN)