Philpost man shot dead, pal wounded

A Philippine Postal Corporation (Philpost) employee was killed while his colleague was critically wounded after they were shot at close range by an unidentified man yesterday morning in Pasay City. The police identified the victims as Mario Cherriguine, 44, and Reynaldo Saygo, 42, both of 26 Area A Chest Clinic Compound, Aurora Boulevard, Pasay.

Both were taken to the San Juan de Dios General Hospital where Cherriguine was pronounced dead on arrival. He sustained a gunshot wound in the head and another two in the chest.

Saygo was shot in his left neck.

Case investigator Senior Police Officer (SPO) 1 Daniel Ocampo of the Criminal Investigation Division (CID) said the incident happened at around 7:45 a.m. inside the Chest Clinic Compound, a few meters away from the Pasay Philpost office.

The investigator said the two victims were assigned at the Philpost office in Parañaque. Cherriguine was a letter courier and driver while Saygo is a messenger.

Quoting witnesses, Ocampo said the two victims had just boarded their Philpost service van (SDG 852), and were apparently on their way to work when the gunman walked towards the van, stopped about a meter away from the vehicle, and without warning, shot Cherriguine and Saygo.

The witnesses said the gunman, who wore a buri hat to conceal his face, casually walked away.

The gunman reportedly waited for his victims at a nearby sari-sari store and concealed his caliber .45 pistol with a newspaper.

Police are still looking for possible motives for the crime. – Nikko Dizon