Man shot dead, another ‘robbed,’ hacked to death

CEBU, Philippines - A trisikad driver was shot dead by an unidentified assailant in Barangay Inayawan, Cebu City on Tuesday.

Mark Abangan, 29, sustained two gunshot wounds to the left side of his head causing his immediate death.

As per investigation, Abangan, a church choir member, was about to attend their practice in Talisay City when an unidentified person shot him upon reaching F. Jaca Bridge.

The victim lay dead on his back on the bridge with his feet on the sidewalk and his head on the road.

Police Officer 1 Junimark Ungab of Homicide Section said the police are having a hard time identifying the assailant because the residents in the area were uncooperative.

It was not yet confirmed but residents said that prior to the shooting incident, a man approached Abangan and they later engaged in an argument. They could not describe the said man, though.

“Naa’y naka-ingon nga naa kuno’y laki ni-duol, galalis daw sila gamay dayon pusil, pero wala gyu’y description, way mosulti,” Ungab said.

In Barangay Cabasiangan, Balamban, Cebu, a man was found dead bathed in his own blood, believed to have been robbed and hacked by an unidentified person.

The body of 55-year-old Saturnino Pitogo, a farmer and a resident of the area, was said to have been already in a state of decomposition when discovered by Joselito Narvasa.

Initial investigation revealed that Narvasa went to Pitogo’s house to supposedly ask permission to harvest the coconut trees owned by the victim.

Police Officer 3 Josephus Montesclaros of Balamban Police Station believed that the victim might have been robbed before he was hacked by the assailant since his pockets were already upturned and the P30,000 cash placed in a small black bag was already missing.

The money was reportedly proceeds from the land sold by the victim.

The police believed that the assailant hacked the victim after getting the loot.

The victim sustained a four-inch hack wound to his forehead while his arms were severely injured from resisting the attacks.

His relatives allegedly do not know of any possible person behind the crime since the victim was not involved in any fight prior to the incident.

A follow-up operation is being conducted by the police for the possible identification and arrest of the suspect.

Meanwhile, a body of a man was found floating in the seawaters off Barangay Talisay, Daanbantayan, Cebu Tuesday morning.

Police Officer 3 Victor Avenido said it was Ronilo Arcenal and Antonio Ducanes, Sr. discovered the body about one kilometer away from the shoreline.

Ducanes and Arcenal immediately sought the help of barangay captain Maria Baguio and called for police assistance.

The man, who remains unidentified, was believed to have drowned in the sea.

He was approximately 5’4” to 5’6” tall and bore a tattoo on his left arm and feet.

The body is now at Pamapangena Funeral Homes in Barangay Kawit, Medellin, Cebu. —(FREEMAN)