Three men shoot, kill motorcyclist

CEBU, Philippines - A man, while on the way home on his motorcycle, was shot dead by three persons in sitio Caduldolan, Barangay Lawaan III, Talisay City yesterday afternoon.

Police has zeroed in on personal grudge as the motive in the killing of Arnold Roldan Sasing, 43, of sitio Casagingan, barangay Lawaan III, and a native of General Santos City.

Sasing succumbed to three gunshot wounds to the head and one gunshot wound to his chest. He was declared dead on arrival at the Talisay City District Hospital.

Prior to the incident, Sasing was reportedly on board his Kawasaki 125 motorcycle without a plate number going towards his residence from sitio Caduldolan when two motorcycles waylaid him.

One black-colored Honda Wave motorcycle driven by unidentified man and another Aura motorcycle driven by Ramil Matadero and Eric Mercado riding with him, appeared to be waiting for Sasing at a corner of the barangay.

As soon as Sasing reportedly passed, Mercado allegedly fired twice at the victim causing Sasing to slump on the road.

Sasing stood up and ran towards Mediatrix School but was chased by the three men until the other man on board the Honda Wave shot the victim again.

The three men immediately left the scene where two deformed slugs of undetermined caliber of firearm were found.

Also recovered in the scene were a black and red-colored holster, a baseball cap, and Sasing’s Kawasaki motorcycle.

The attending physician recovered from Sasing’s possession one leather wallet containing his driver’s license, two pawnshop receipt of New Pag-asa Pawnshop covering Seiko 5 sports automatic wristwatch and a Rado Auto Diastar wristwatch and six US dollar bills, and a cellular phone. 

Insp. Rio Hugo Ipong, homicide investigator, said motive of the crime was personal grudge because Sasing was suspected responsible for burning the vehicle of Mercado’s father last year but was allegedly not proven.

Mercado allegedly stabbed Sasing a year ago after an argument however Sasing was not killed.

Ipong said Sasing and Mercado knew each other for being neighbors for quite a time.

“Dumot ra man gyud ning ila, mahulog sad og unhanay,” Ipong said in a phone interview.

Charges against the men are being prepared.