Senior shot dead while praying rosary

CEBU, Philippines — A female senior citizen was shot dead by a still unidentified gunman while praying the rosary inside her house in the town of Alcantara in southeastern Cebu Friday evening.

The victim was identified as Virgie Irojo, 62, a resident of Barangay Lawa-an. She succumbed to a gunshot wound to her head.

Irojo was brought to Badian District Hospital but was pronounced dead on arrival by the attending physician.

Based on the initial accounts from the victim’s common-law husband, Nelson Igarote, 51, Irojo was inside their house praying a rosary when they heard a gunshot around 10:45 p.m.

Igarote was having a conversation with his mother in front of their house at that time.

Igorate said he rushed inside the house and called Irojo, but he was shocked when he found his partner lying on the bed and bathed in her own blood.

Police said the suspect positioned himself at the back side of the victim’s house and shot her through a hole in a wall made of bamboo sticks.

Police have recovered a bullet of a still unknown caliber of firearm from the dining room of the house of certain Paz Igarote which was believed to have a trajectory exit at the main door of the victim’s house.

Police are still conducting a follow-up investigation as to the identity of the suspect and the possible motive behind the killing of Irojo. — KQD (FREEMAN)