Man shot while taking shortcut

CEBU, Philippines - A man was shot Monday evening by two strangers in an interior portion of Purok Upa, Sitio Matumbo, Barangay Pusok, Lapu-Lapu City.

The victim was identified as Rene Ybales, 31, who has a live-in partner and currently jobless. He is a resident of Lower Matumbo in the same barangay.

Police officer John Carlo Jocutan of Lapu-Lapu City Police Office - Homicide Section said the incident happened at around 11:40 p.m. when Ybales was visiting the house of his live-in partner in Sitio Soong, Barangay Mactan.

On his way home, he arrived in the front of Metrobank on Manuel Quezon Highway in Pusok and decided to walk and take a shortcut.

While he was walking, two unidentified men appeared and, with no apparent reason, shot Ybales several times with an unidentified caliber of firearm.

The suspects fled away from the scene when Police Officer Roger Uriarte of the Police Station 5 responded to the incident.

The victim sustained gunshot wounds on his lower extremity, including his right leg, right armpit and left shoulder.

He was rushed to the Vicente Sotto Memorial Medical Center by the Emergency Rescue Unit Foundation.

LLCPO is conducting a follow-up operation for the possible determination of the suspects.