Cop shot by men on bike

CEBU, Philippines- A policeman, who just came home from church with his family, escaped death after he was shot multiple times by two unidentified men at Nivel Hills, Barangay Busay, Cebu City yesterday morning.

Police Officer 3 Ramon Bolongaita, 53, who is currently assigned at the Regional Police Holding and Accounting Unit of the Police Regional Office-7, is now recuperating at the hospital after he sustained gunshot wounds in the different parts of his body.

Police investigation revealed that at 8:11 a.m. yesterday, the victim and his wife, Maria Luisa Bolongaita, and their kids arrived home from attending mass.

Maria Luisa and the kids first disembarked from their car while Ramon was left to park the vehicle.

However, two unidentified men onboard a motorcycle, suddenly stopped near the driver’s side and shot Ramon several times.

The assailants, who could not be recognized due to their helmets, immediately sped off to an unknown direction while Ramon, who sustained three gunshot wounds on his left shoulder, hips and abdomen, was immediately brought to Perpetual Succour Hospital to undergo operation.

Responding police officers found seven empty shells, believed to be from a .45 cal. pistol, in the crime scene.

Senior Police Officer 2 Romel Bancog of the Homicide Section of the Cebu City Police Office said they will be conducting further investigation to determine the motive of the crime. Bancog said they are not discounting the possibility that it may be related to Ramon’s field of work.

Bancog said Ramon’s wife and children do not know if Ramon has been receiving any death threats.

Bancog said based on the number of empty shells found in the crime scene, the assailants intended to kill Ramon since the gunman emptied the magazine of the .45 cal.

He said the assailants’ target was only Ramon since they waited for the victim’s family to disembark from the car.

As of yesterday afternoon, Ramon was already out of danger, said Bancog, who spoke with the victim’s second child.

Councilor Kevin Sanchez of Barangay Busay, who personally knows Ramon, said the victim is a nice person and that their barangay has not had any problems with him.

“Family friend na namo siya and maayo man na iyang pamilya. Actually, makita sad nato nga gikan siya nagsimba uban iyang pamilya before the incident. Kami diri sa barangay, wala gyud mi problema ana niya,” said Sanchez.  (FREEMAN)