Cavite farm murder victims identified

CAMP VICENTE LIM, Laguna, Philippines – Police have identified four of the five persons killed in a shooting at a game fowl farm in Amadeo, Cavite on Monday.

Town police chief Inspector Rommel Dimaala identified the fatalities as farm owner Roland Pepino; his workers Gereon Dalhog, Joseph Pontillo, 46, and Jolina Mendoza, 17.

Police has yet to identify the fifth fatality.

The wounded – Junre Mendoza and Catherine May Binuso – remain confined at the Ospital ng Tagaytay for treatment of gunshot wounds.

Dimaala said they are looking into drugs, an old grudge and business rivalry as among the motives for the attack that occurred in Barangay Halang.

He said they were verifying the background of the farm owner as he appeared to be using two names.

Initial reports identified the farm owner as Vince Garcia through a driver’s license recovered on his person.

Dimaala said investigation showed the victims were having a drinking spree before they were shot dead on Sunday night. The killing was discovered on Monday morning.

Residents told probers they heard several gunshots the night before the victims were found dead.

Dimaala said the crime could have been perpetrated by a lone assailant armed with a 9mm pistol. He said the victims could have known the killer.

Senior Superintendent Eliseo Cruz, Cavite police director, has ordered the creation of a task force to investigate the incident.

Probers recovered from the crime scene several bullet shells for a 9mm pistol, a magazine for an M16 Armalite, P419,300 cash and drug paraphernalia.