Two alleged thieves shot dead

CEBU, Philippines - A suspected thief was found dead with gunshot wounds in the head and body yesterday morning in a grassy area in Newtown Subdivision, Barangay Pardo.

Police identified the victim as Jonathan Ocarisa, 22, a resident of Barangay Bulacao-Pardo. He had gunshot wounds in the left temple and shoulder.

The body was discovered by a 15-year-old boy who was sent by his mother to gather firewood at 8 am yesterday.

The boy’s mother, Jenny Pagoya, 32, said the night before Ocarisa’s body was found, she heard six bursts of gunfire but ignored them since it was cold and raining.

Her son ran and told her about the body. She then told the subdivision’s guard.

PO1 John Errick Samosa of the Homicide Section said residents in the subdivision suspected that Ocarisa was a thief and was killed by his victim.

Pagoya said robbery is also very rampant in their area.

An electric fuse box cover was recovered some 30 meters from the victim’s body and is believed to be his.

Samosa said they will conduct a background investigation on  the victim to eventually determine the motive behind the incident and possibly arrest his killer.

Meanwhile, another suspected thief was beaten up and shot to death in Barangay Upper Tunghaan, Minglanilla at 4 am yesterday.

Rene Campos, 36, a resident of Barangay Sudlon, Cebu City, was found with several bruises in his body and a gunshot wound in the left thigh.

Based on the report of Minglanilla police, the victim was reportedly seen walking suspiciously in the area yesterday dawn with a knapsack bag on his back.

Suspicious, one of the residents allegedly confronted him about what was inside the bag and eventually checked the contents. Two roosters were found inside the victim’s bag.

Immediately suspecting that the victim stole it, the residents mauled the victim and one of them also shot him.

By the time policemen arrived, the assailants were no longer around and the victim was sprawled, bloodied, on the ground.

He was rushed to the Minglanilla District Hospital and not long after, died.

The victim’s live-in partner, Emelda dela Cruz, said the victim is not a thief and that he was in Minglanilla to buy the roosters. Two residents later claimed the roosters.

Police are now trying to identify the suspects who mauled and killed the victim. — (FREEMAN)