Motorcycle driver shot dead by 2 passengers

CEBU, Philippines - A motorcycle-for-hire driver was robbed and shot dead by his own passengers in Cebu City while two Indian moneylenders were also robbed of their money in Barili town.

Past 3 a.m. yesterday, two men shot and killed Vergilio Limpio Jr., 25, in Sabellano St., Barangay Quiot Pardo, Cebu City.

Initial investigation showed that before a gunshot was heard and Limpio was found dead he was last seen with two men riding pillion on his yellow motorcycle.

The robbers stole the victim’s silver necklace worth P2,000 and his class ring.

The robbers also took Limpio’s motorcycle worth P56,000 which they used to flee from the area. Limpio, a resident of San Agustin Village, Barangay Inayawan, was left sprawled on the ground with a gunshot wound to the head.

Police were able to get descriptions of the robbers and are now trying to determine their identities.

Moneylenders robbed

Meanwhile, two men riding tandem on a motorcycle robbed moneylenders Harjinder Singh, 42, and Harpeet Singh, 22, along Barangay Guibuangan, Barili town, at 2:30 p.m. last Friday.

The Singhs were driving a motorcycle heading home to Barangay Li-ong, Dumanjug town, when two men on another motorcycle overtook and waylaid them. The driver wore a helmet and his passenger covered his face with cloth.

The passenger then disembarked from the motorcycle, pulled out a gun, and declared a hold-up.

They got the victim’s P15,000 cash and fled toward Barili proper. A manhunt operation was conducted but police failed to arrest the robbers.

Teenager shot dead

In a separate incident, a 19-year-old shot a 17-year-old neighbor dead in Barangay Ermita shortly after midnight yesterday.

Police identified the victim as Sanden Sarmiento and the suspect as Kim Cellan, who accused the victim of mauling his brother earlier.

Sarmiento was reportedly riding a trisikad with his friends on their way home when Cellan, who was apparently waiting for him, shot him twice before fleeing.

The minor was rushed to the Cebu City Medical Center but he succumbed minutes later to two gunshot wounds to the body.

Police were informed that last week, Sarmiento mauled a certain “Jep-jep” which was said to be a brother of the suspect. 

This is believed to be Cellan’s motive in shooting Sarmiento.

Boy killed in accident

In Barangay Campo 8, Toledo City, a motorcycle driver accidentally hit and killed an eight-year-old boy around noon last Friday.

The fatality was identified as Constancio Ababa, a Grade 3 pupil, while the driver was Erlindo Paduga, 59, of Barangay DAS of the same city.

Paduga was driving a Honda XRM motorcycle from Cebu City when the boy suddenly crossed the road. The boy was hit and was thrown to the pavement.

Paduga took the victim to the Carmen Copper Hospital and later to the Vicente Sotto Memorial Medical Center in Cebu City. On their way there, they decided to pass by the Minglanilla District Hospital where the victim was declared dead on arrival.

The driver voluntarily surrendered to the police. Charges are now being prepared against him.     - THE FREEMAN