Municipal councilor shot dead
CEBU, Philippines - A former police official who became a municipal councilor in Argao was shot and killed by an unidentified gunman while he was about to board his vehicle at the town’s public market past 5 p.m. yesterday.
Joaquin Banosong, 64, of Barangay Talaga, sustained gunshot wounds to the head. He was taken to the Isidro Kintanar Memorial Hospital but was declared dead on arrival.
Banosong just left the public market carrying food for dinner and was about to board his silver Hyundai Starex van when shot.
The windshield of his vehicle bore two bullet holes.
At least four gunshots were reportedly heard but only three slugs were found by police at the crime scene. Police also recovered a holster, which was believed to have been thrown away by the gunman.
SPO1 Arnold Abenir said the gunman may have tailed Banosong on his way to the market before the shooting.
It has become Banosong’s habit to park his vehicle in front of the Philippine Long Distance Telephone (PLDT) office near the market.
He would usually stop by the public market every afternoon.
PO2 Bryan Yosores, who responded to the incident, said Banosong was about to board his vehicle when attacked by the gunman.
“He (the victim) was slumped below the door of his vehicle,†Yosores said.
Police are now locating a woman who reportedly witnessed the incident.
As of press time, police are still investigating the motive of the incident.
Not politically motivated
Argao Mayor Edsel Galeos believed the killing of Banosong was not related to politics.
Galeos told The Freeman that his political ally was a very nice and down-to-earth person.
Galeos said the killing could not be political since Banosong, a municipal councilor for three terms, did not have any problem with anyone and that he performed his job very well.
The mayor said he already instructed the town police for a speedy investigation into the killing.
Before he entered politics, Banosong was once a chief of the Alcoy Police Station.
2 killed in Lapu-Lapu
Meanwhile, two passenger multicab dispatchers were shot dead by two unidentified men around 6 p.m. yesterday in Saac, Barangay Buaya, Lapu-Lapu City.
The victims, both residents of the place, succumbed to multiple gunshot wounds in different parts of their bodies.
One of the two men first shot Joemar Amemita, 23, several times before walking toward Vel Casiño, 23, and shot him once in the head.
Both victims were no longer taken to the hospital as they died on the spot.
A witness, Cris Daño, 33, said two unidentified men on board a motorcycle stopped a few meters away from the victims.
The back rider alighted from the motorcycle and, without any words, shot the victims.
Police, who recovered more than 10 empty shells of .45 caliber pistol from the crime scene, are still looking into the motive of the crime. —With AJ de la Torre/LPM (FREEMAN)
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