Daylight violence at court compound, Man shot dead after court hearing

CEBU, Philippines – A former barangay captain aspirant was gunned down moments after stepping out of the Lapu-Lapu City Hall of Justice late morning yesterday.

Jaime Daño, 47, died on the spot at around 11 a.m. when one of two unidentified men onboard a white motorcycle fired at him two times.

Daño was a resident of Sitio Solas, Barangay Punta Engaño where he ran for village chief in 2013.

Police said Daño, who also owned a shell craft business, just finished having his snacks at a nearby food stall when someone reportedly approached him.

Waiting outside the hall, the gunman was seen wearing a black shirt and a cap that almost covered his face.

Gunbursts followed.

It was the backrider who allegedly shot Daño.

Riding in tandem, the suspects immediately fled from the scene.

Passersby said they turned right taking the Barangay Pusok Road, possibly passing through the interiors of Purok Mustang in the same barangay.

Police Officer 2 Joseph Rouel Cutanda of Lapu-Lapu City Police Office Homicide Section examined the crime scene and told reporters the bullets entered on the right part of the victim's head and exited from the left.

The area where Daño fell down faces the Hall of Justice and is surrounded by city police headquarters, as well as offices of the Special Weapons and Tactics Unit and tourist police.

Daño was at the Hall of Justice yesterday to accompany two senior citizens in the hearing of a case that reportedly involved dynamite fishing. After the hearing yesterday, Daño parted ways with the two senior citizens.

While sources did not immediately establish Daño's relationship with the senior citizens or why he accompanied them in their hearing, accounts from Daño's wife, Vivian, said the victim willingly helps neighbors in need.

Upon learning of the commotion outside, one of Daño's siblings hurriedly went outside the hall, apparently shocked, enraged and crying out after seeing her brother bathed in blood.

Daño's sister, who is a nun, his wife Vivian and their daughter arrived later.

Family members could not pinpoint a person behind Daño's shooting because they did not reportedly hear of the victim receiving death threats recently.

Police recovered from the crime scene the victim's mobile phone, his car keys and two empty shells believed to be from a .45 caliber pistol.

In the 2013 polls, Daño ran for barangay captain of Punta Engaño against Diosminda Hayashi and Lourdes Ibag where Ibag won the race.

Police Senior Inspector Zenaido Pastorfide, chief of LLCPO Homicide Section, said aspects of business, politics or grudges are among the possible angles they are now closely studying as motives into Daño's killing.