2 traders gunned down in Bayugan City

BUTUAN CITY — Two businessmen were gunned down by suspects riding in tandem in Purok 1, Barangay Salvacion, Bayugan City, Agusan del Sur, a flash report reaching the police regional headquarters here on Thursday said.

In the initial report received by Chief Supt. Rolando B. Felix, regional director of Northeastern Mindanao Police Regional Office 13 (PRO 13) from Agusan del Sur Police Provincial Office (PPO) director Senior Supt. Joseph D. Plaza, the victims were identified as Romeo P. Hermit, 49 of Purok 1, Barangay Taganahaw, Esperanza town and Margarita J. Bueno, 50 of Purok 15, Tanguile St., Barangay Poblacion, Bayugan City, both in Agusan del Sur province.

Hermit was a buyer of falcata, an agricultural wood product in Agusan del Sur while Bueno was the financier, Senior Supt. Plaza said, quoting the initial report of Bayugan City Police Station (BCPS) city director Supt. Romeo Villalobos.

The victims onboard a BAJAJ Kawasaki with plate No. 9368 SZ were on their way to Esperanza town when two unidentified suspects onboard a single motorcycle, blue color, without plate number shot the victims several times in Purok 1, Barangay Salvacion of that same city at 9:05 a.m. on Wednesday.

A bag containing an undetermined amount of cash was grabbed by the suspects before shooting down the victims.

“After the incident, the suspects fled to an unknown direction,” Senior Supt. Plaza said.

The victims were brought to New Bayugan City Medical Hospital for treatment but were later declared dead by the attending physician.

On Tuesday, a leader of the Nagkahiusang Mag-uuma sa Surigao del Norte (NMS-United Farmers in Surigao del Norte) and at the same time security officer of a local government unit (LGU) in Alegria town, Surigao del Norte town was also gunned down by a riding in tandem along the national highway of Purok 1, Barangay Poblacion, Alegria town, Surigao del Norte province.

Victim Melito V. Catampungan, 60, officer of Civil Security Unit (CSU) of Alegria Local Government Unit (LGU), suffered two gunshot wounds in his arm and one bullet wound on his chest.

Chief Supt. Felix ordered Agusan del Sur PPO, BCPS and Surigao del Norte PPO to determine the identities of the perpetrators for their immediate arrest and respective motive of the incidents in filing of appropriate charges in court. (Mike U. Crismundo)