Thief’ found dead; teacher ambushed

CEBU, Philippines - A 21-year-old suspected thief was found dead with gunshot wounds yesterday in Barangay Santa Cruz, San Francisco town in Camotes Island.

Residents found the body of Anthony Formentera at past 11 a.m. at a secluded and grassy area, his body riddled with bullets.

A team from  San Francisco Police led by Senior Police Officer 3 Epifanio Sanjorjo responded and inspected the body together with the municipal health officer.

At least four gunshot wounds were found in the body – two to the back of the victim’s head and another two to his back.

The victim’s parents told police that their son went out to visit some friends on Thursday night.

Investigation conducted by the police showed that Formentera is allegedly suspected in the series of theft incidents in the area, which police believe to be the motive behind the killing.

Police recovered four empty shells of a caliber .45 pistol from the crime scene and submitted these for ballistics examination.

BARILI SHOOTING

In a separate incident, a public school teacher was injured after he was reportedly ambushed in Barangay Minolos, Barili town Friday night.

Amiel Villarmente, 42, who teaches at Lamac Elementary School in Barangay Laac, Barili, was driving a motorcycle on his way home in Barangay Azucena at around 8 p.m. when a DT motorcycle overtook him.

The driver of the motorcycle allegedly pulled out a gun and shot the victim twice, hitting him once in the left side of his body.

The police responded and brought the victim to Barili District Hospital.

Investigation is being conducted to identify the assailant and determine the motive behind the attack on the school teacher.

TUBURAN

Meanwhile in Barangay Daanlungsod in the town of Tuburan, a fisherman was found dead at the barangay’s seashore on Friday afternoon.

Police identified the fatality as Levi Encabo, 42, a resident of the barangay, who fishes for a living.

Reportedly the previous night, at around 10 p.m., Senior Police Officer 2 Aldin Abayabay said, Encabo and his friends Roger Montecalvo, 28, and Alejandro Pajaganas, 32, went fishing while allegedly under the influence of liquor.

The three were allegedly on a motorized pump boat owned by Encabo when the improvised anchor was not properly pulled out and was snagged under the sea.

Encabo tried to pull the anchor by speeding up the boat, but failed, causing the boat to sink.

The three swam towards the shore but Encabo, who was believed to have drowned, did not make it.

Upon reaching the shore, Montecalvo and Pajaganas noticed that Encabo was missing.

They waited for him for several hours, but they still did not find the victim, prompting them to ask for police assistance.

The body of the victim was found the following day and will be subjected to an autopsy.  (FREEMAN)