Robert C. Dejon | May 30, 2022
A barangay chairman was killed by an unidentified suspect while stopping at a bridge aboard his single motorcycle around 5:10PM May 28 at Brgy. Elizabeth, Leyte, Leyte.
The casualty was identified as Romeo Cañas, of legal age, married, and the barangay chairman of Brgy. Tigbawan, Leyte, Leyte.
According to witnesses, the suspect was a male wearing gray shirt, black short pants and around 5ft tall, brown complexion with medium body built.
The witnesses were identified as Lemuel Astilla Durante, 47, married, barangay kagawad of Brgy. Poblacion, Leyte; Norman Salini, 31, married, farmer and a resident of Sitio Tagaytay, Brgy. Gemarco, Tabango, Leyte; and Eulogio Lipalam, 46, married, laborer and resident of Brgy. Elizabeth, Leyte, Leyte.
Initial investigation conducted by the responding police thru manifestations from the witnesses disclosed that the victim was aboard his single motocycle coming from Brgy. Calaguise and was heading towards Brgy. Poblacion. As he approached the bridge which was under repairs, he stopped on the foot of the bridge to give way to an incoming motorcycle.
Witnesses said the suspect was believed to be tailing the victim aboard another motorcycle and stopped around ten (10) meters behind the victim. The gunman disembarked from the vehicle, approached the victim and around five (5) meters away shot the victim once at the back using a short firearm.
After the shooting, the suspect immediately boarded back to his motorcycle and headed back towards Calaguise.
One of the witnesses, Durante, described to the police the firearm used by the suspect to be like an Ingram sub-machinegun with a hole on the side of the barrel.
The victim was quoted to utter “ano adto?” (what was that?) after he was shot and tried to get off his motorcycle.
In their testimonies, witnesses said they approached the victim and brought him inside a makeshift waiting shed and let the victim sit on the bamboo-made bench.
Upon arrival of the responding police forces, the victim was brought to the Rural Health Unit (RHU-Leyte) for immediate medical attention.
During the conduct of the crime scene investigation, the investigators failed to locate pieces of evidences such as firearms, empty shells or bullets in the area of incidence.
The victim was later referred to the OSPA-Farmers Medical Center in Ormoc but was declared dead on arrival by attending physician, Dr. Francis Betsy Bernales – De Veyra.
Police are still conducting follow-up investigation on the fleeing suspects for their possible identification.
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