Wanted man, one other gunned down

CEBU, Philippines - Two persons were gunned down by unidentified men Wednesday evening in Barangay Liboron, Carmen.

The fatalities were identified as Vincent Malinao, 22, of Barangay Dawis Norte, and Ranie “Jonathan” Fundador of Barangay Caurasan, who succumbed to gunshot wounds in the chest and abdomen, respectively.

Chief Insp. Alvin Balio, Carmen police chief, said that a burst of gunfire was heard around 3:30 p.m. that day but nobody could locate the exact location. This prompted the police to conduct follow-up investigation the next day.

During their operation, police located the body of Malinao at the house of Liboron councilman Silverio Cuizon. About 500 meters away, the body of Fundador was also found at a bushy area as police found a .45 cal. pistol with magazine loaded with eight bullets 16 meters away.

Two bullets and one empty shell of .22 revolver were also found few meters away from the body of Malinao.

Balio disclosed that Malinao once stabbed a college student but the complainant refused to file charges against him due to fear of possible revenge while Fundador was among the most wanted persons in the town for rape case.

“Four times na mi sige’g balik ani didto sa ilaha kay mag-serve lagi mi ug warrant of arrest unya di gyud namo maabtan hangtod naabot ang panahon nga mubahad na ni siya nga kung kinsay musulti asa siya iyang patyon,” Balio said in a phone interview.

Fundador has been hiding in the area and was at the house of Cuizon at that time as he was a nephew of the councilman’s wife.

“Sige na pud sila og kombinsir ani niya nga mo-surrender pero di gyud kuno hangtod aning napusilan na,” Balio said.

Police are still conducting follow-up investigation for possible identification of the assailants. —/GMR (FREEMAN)