Man facing murder charges shot dead

Ormoc CITY – A man facing murder charges for allegedly shooting to death a frat man died on the spot after he was shot to death several times while driving a multicab van by unidentified culprits on board a single motorcycle along Rizal, corner Burgos street, about 1:30 a.m. Sunday.

Police Community Precinct I deputy chief Senior Inspector Joseywells Estopen identified the victim as Romonites Tor­ralba, 29, single, a resident of Agua Dulce, District 25 here. Torralba is a known toughie in the city who is facing several cases in court ranging from physical injuries, grave threats and recently, murder.

Case investigator SPO4 Rudy Sano told The STAR the victim has just come from a lugawan along Avelis street. After eating, the victim drove his multicab van (GNP-394) and believed to be on his way home when the unidentified suspects shot him at close range.

Jovencio Solis, a security guard of Lockheed Security Agency assigned at the PNOC, told police that he heard three to four consecutive gunshots while he was withdrawing money from an ATM machine in the area. He added that after the explosion he saw the van zigzagging on the run until it stopped to a nearby snack parlor. Moreover, Solis said that when the van stopped, the third backrider of a red Kawazaki Aura alighted from the motorcycle and shot the victim again.

The suspects on board a motorcycle (no plate number) fled to unknown destination. Another witness told The STAR that the motorcycle was tailing the van while traversing Burgos street. When the motorcycle overtook the van, the gunman shot the victim in front of his windshield.   – Roberto Dejon