CEBU, Philippines - Two persons were killed in separate shooting and stabbing incidents in the town of Carmen and Danao City.
In Carmen town, a suspected drug pusher was shot dead while attending the fiesta celebration in Barangay Dawis Sur, last Thursday afternoon.
Malbert Laurel, 35, of Barangay Poblacion, Danao City, succumbed to two gunshot wounds to the head.
Laurel was reportedly visiting a family friend in the said barangay along with his family.
Laurel was seen standing along the national highway in front of the house when an unidentified assailant approached him and shot twice at close range.
The unidentified assailant then walked to a waiting motorcycle and fled.
Police recovered two empty shells of a .45 cal. pistol from the crime scene.
Homicide investigator SPO3 Renerio Masucol said motive of the killing had something to do with Laurel’s suspected illegal drugs trade.
“Base lang na sa among nakuha nga impormasyon ngadto di mi suhito niya kay di man ni taga-Carmen,” Masucol said in a phone interview.
The investigator added that execution of the crime was well planned and the assailant could have been tailing Laurel from Danao City to Carmen town before he found the opportunity to shoot him dead.
In another incident, a 29-year-old man was stabbed dead by a bystander following a heated argument yesterday at a PUJ terminal in Barangay Poblacion, Danao City.
Renante Monares, 29, of Barangay Laaw, Borbon, sustained stab wounds in his left arm and chest. He was rushed to the Danao Provincial Hospital but was declared dead on arrival.
Police failed to arrest Joseph Tito, of Barangay Quisol, Danao City, who immediately fled on foot after what happened.
Police recovered a hunting knife with bloodstains, suspected to have been used by Tito in stabbing Monares.
Initial investigation of the police revealed that shortly before noon last Thursday Monares and Tito had an argument over the loading of passengers.
The issue between the two was not settled and Tito stabbed Monares yesterday.
Police are now preparing appropriate charges against Tito. - THE FREEMAN