Affair eyed as motive behind killing of driver

CEBU, Philippines - A motorcycle-for-hire driver was shot dead by an unidentified man while riding home from ferrying a passenger last Monday evening in Sitio Ibabao, Barangay Perrelos, Carcar City.

PO2 Rosendo Binondo, Carcar City police investigator, said Jovanie Espinosa, 34, married, of Sitio Katugasan of the same barangay, drove a passenger to Sitio Ibabao around 9 p.m.

According to Binondo, the passenger said he noticed a motorcycle tailing them and made no moves to overtake them but allegedly stopped at a corner.

Police said when Espinosa was heading home, the man on that motorcycle may have waited for him to pass by and shot him once.

Espinosa was shot in the left side of his arm, the bullet then exited to lodge in the left side of his torso.

He was taken to the Carcar City District Hospital but did not make it there alive.

No evidence was recovered at the crime scene.

The Carcar City police surmise an illicit love affair was behind the killing as Espinosa was rumored to be having a relationship with a married woman.

Binondo said the wife of Espinosa and the husband of Espinosa’s lover are both aware of the affairs of their respective partners.

Binondo also said that the husband of the woman even went to the house of Espinosa looking for his wife after she failed to return home one time.

The police will be inviting the wife of Espinosa to provide information on her husband’s background before they will send an invitation letter to the husband of the woman to appear before the police station. –(FREEMAN)