Bohol Massacre 4 shot dead, 1 escaped

UBAY, BOHOL, Philippines — Four persons were ruthlessly shot dead by unidentified assailants, but one survived from the bloodbath by escaping into Barangay Humayhumay of this town, about 125 kilometers northeast from Tagbilaran City, police progress report bared.

The fatalities were identified as Rizza Alicarte Pescadero, 29, single and resident of Barangay Bood; Angel Ann Polentinos, 18, single and from Barangay Camambugan;  Ignacio Suarez Sereño, 19, of Humayhumay; and Sammy Corona, of  Barangay Poblacion  of neighboring Candijay town, the report said.

A certain Joseph Cerelijia, 40, married and resident of Barangay Fatima, also of this town, escaped death, the same report said.

Pescadero was hit in his lips and Polentinos on her left cheek. Sereño was riddled with three gunshot wounds in his body and Corona sustained four gunshot wounds.

Based on the said report furnished to The Freeman by Col. Joie Yape, information officer of the Bohol Provincial Police Office at Camp Dagohoy, the four victims were rushed to the Don Emelio Del Valle Hospital here where the attending physician declared them dead on arrival.

The responding team, led by Chief  Inspector George Caña, Ubay Police chief, recovered two empty shells and live ammunition of caliber .45 pistol; two empty shells of 9mm gun and drug paraphernalia.

They also recovered from the crime scene two motorcycles, Rouser 135cc color red (license plate 1987 PX, chassis no. MD2A17CZ2CCE33825 and engine no. JEZCCF39329); and Suzuki 125 with no license plate (for registration), with engine no. F4C9-43036. These were believed to be used by the victims when they were ambushed in a secluded area of Humayhumay, the report said.

Initial investigation showed that the victims while on board on the motorcycles at past 4 a.m. on Monday, from the house of Ignacio Sereño (one of the victims) on their way to Barangay Achila of this town when a volley of  gunshots were heard from the motorcycle-riding assailants.

The ambush was reported by a concerned citizen, prompting the police to dispatch a team, led by Senior Police Officer 3 Diomedes Boynas, to the crime scene.

According to Cerelijia (lone survivor) the attackers used "silencers" because he hardly heard the volley of gunfire. "He (Cerelijia) survived from the ordeal when the leading motorcycles boarded by the two male victims were first fired upon then he managed to run leaving his two female passengers/victims behind," the report said.

Until this writing last night, police probers were still facing a blank wall as to the identities of the killers and the motive of the bloodbath.