2 killed in separate shootings

CEBU, Philippines - A 66-year-old widow was found dead with several gunshot wounds in her body at her house in Sitio Tigbao, Barangay Talamban, Cebu City last Saturday evening.

Virgilia Bontilao, a farmer, sustained gunshot wounds in the chest, back, and hand. The victim’s body was discovered by her houseboy, Jake Pitogo, 19, when the latter reported for work at 9:00   in the evening.

Pitogo told the police that he was surprised to see that the main door of the house was wide open when he arrived. He allegedly rushed to check on his employer and her grandchildren.

However, he found the victim already bathed with her own blood inside her room. Responding policemen recovered three slugs of caliber .45 pistol at the crime scene.

PO1 Merlo Laborte of the Homicide Section said they submitted Pitogo to a paraffin test and considered him as potential suspect. The police learned that Pitogo was scolded by the victim last week which may have driven him to kill his employer.

Pitogo however was cooperative in the investigation, said Laborte.

According to the family, the victim had no known enemies. Robbery is also a far motive since the victim’s money and valuables remain intact.

Meanwhile, a suspected thief was shot dead inside an apartment along Echavez St., Barangay Zapatera shortly after midnight yesterday.

Security guard Andy Flores of the Aloha Apartelle is believed to have killed the victim whose identity remains unknown.  The police described the victim to be about 35 years old, 5’2 in height, wearing yellow shirt and gray shorts.

One of the apartelle’s occupants, John Labis, 42, said he went outside after hearing gunfire. He eventually found the victim lying dead on his back near the stairway leading to the rooms of the apartelle.

He rushed to supposedly seek Flores’ help after realizing that the apartelle’s owner wasn’t around, but the guard was not at his post anymore.

Responding policemen tried to bring the victim to the hospital but he was already dead.

Recovered from the victim’s possession was a pair of slippers, two screw drivers, nail cutter, and coin purse.

Responding policemen failed to locate the missing guard. Police only found a record book that the guard apparently abandoned at his post.

Laborte said they are hunting down the guard, who is connected with Bisda Security Agency, to shed light on the incident.— (FREEMAN)