Dumaguete parking attendant survives shooting

DUMAGUETE CITY, Philippines  – A parking attendant is now recuperating from surgery at the Silliman University Medical Center (SUMC) in Dumaguete City after he was shot at least four times Tuesday morning at the parking lot fronting the hospital.

Superintendent Crisaleo Tolentino, Dumaguete City Police chief, said the victim, Jesus Bulpat Fabe, Jr., 33, a resident of San Isidro in Tanjay City, Negros Oriental, underwent surgery Wednesday and was able to talk to police investigators in the afternoon of the same day.

The victim sustained gunshot wounds on legs, right arm and abdomen. Police recovered at least two spent .45 caliber shells from the crime scene at the parking area fronting the SUMC, Fabe’s regular spot as a parking attendant, said Tolentino.

Initial police investigation showed that sometime close to 11 a.m. Tuesday, a man walked up to Fabe, opened fire at him and fled from the scene. Fabe managed to run to the SUMC immediately after he was shot, said the police chief.

The police are looking at one possible angle allegedly involving an elected official in the province but whose name was not divulged pending further investigation, said Tolentino.

Fabe was reported to have engaged the politician in an argument Sunday evening at a parking lot fronting the St. Catherine of Alexandria Cathedral in Dumaguete, he said.

Responding policemen, however, could not locate Fabe that evening at the parking lot in Quezon Park.

Investigators are hoping that witnesses in Tuesday’s daytime shooting near the vicinity of the SUMC will cooperate with the police, said Tolentino, adding that many people were around at the time but apparently were fearful to give a statement to the police. (FREEMAN)