Former seaman shot dead near children
POLICE are looking at either love triangle or personal grudge as motive for the murder of a former seaman in Sitio Soong 1, Barangay Mactan, Lapu-Lapu City past 6 a.m. Thursday, Aug. 15, 2019.
The 57-year-old victim, identified as Gil Pedida Antonio, was driving his multicab with his two children as passengers when he was shot dead by riding-in-tandem assailants.
Antonio was transporting his children—a five-year-old boy and a two-year-old girl—towards school at the time. Both children, who sat the victim, were unharmed, but traumatized by the event, police said.
Investigation showed the assailants drove near the driver’s side when the multicab slowed down due to traffic; then they shot Antonio.
Police Staff Sergeant Ben Sanchez, investigator, said he will verify the information he received that Antonio’s wife and the victim were separated. He also received a report that Antonio had made enemies in the subdivision where he lived with his children.
A dashcam was found inside the multicab, but it was not functioning.
Sanchez urged the victim’s relatives in Cebu to cooperate with the investigation. Most of the victim’s relatives are reportedly based in Cagayan de Oro City.
Police have no knowledge about Antonio’s current job. The victim stopped working as a seaman two years ago.
Antonio’s sibling in Cagayan de Oro City is willing to take care of the victim’s children, said Sanchez.
Sanchez said his superior plans to bring the children to the Department of Social Welfare and Development. A slug and an empty shell of .45 were found by the police in the crime scene. /