5 men shot dead in span of 5 hours

In a span of five hours, five men were shot dead while one was injured in separate shooting incidents in the metro over the weekend.

Around 9:40 p.m. last Saturday at La Paloma Subdivision in Barangay Tisa, Cebu City, pedal cab driver Michael Margate, 25, succumbed to multiple gunshot wounds.

Homicide investigator SPO2 Wetzel Berry said the victim was declared lifeless by attending physician when he was brought to the hospital, while suspect fled from the scene using the getaway motorcycle.

According to an informant, the victim reportedly runs wild when drunk. Margate allegedly had stabbed someone once while he was intoxicated.

Police recovered three deformed slugs from the crime scene. Personal grudge is eyed as the closest motive.

Less than an hour after, Angelo Rosales, 21, a resident of Ponce Uno Barangay Carreta, Cebu City was also shot dead around 10:20 p.m.

An informant told the police she heard four gunshots just outside their house and when she opened the door, she saw the victim lying on the ground. Rosales died on the spot, after suffering from multiple gunshot wounds in the different parts of his body.

Witnesses pointed out that the gunman must be a certain Bobby, based on the looks of the suspect.

Police recovered from the area three empty shells of a .45 calibre firearm, metal frames, and one small sachet of suspected shabu that reportedly fell from the suspect’s pocket.

At about 1:30 a.m. yesterday, Bebot Cebero, 34, a resident of Villagonzalo Uno, Barangay Tejero, Cebu City, was shot dead on his way home allegedly by a certain Michael Digitos, also known as Gamay.

The victim suffered from a fatal gunshot wound to his face. He was rushed to a nearby hospital, however, medical personnel declared him dead on arrival.

A witness said the suspect may have held a grudge against the victim. It was said that the victim had reprimanded a group of minors for mocking him last May 16.

In Talisay City, the barangay treasurer of Lawaan 1 was shot dead by unidentified assailant last Saturday at around 9 p.m. while watching a volleyball game in their sitio. The victim, Rogelio Paradiro, 42, a resident of the aforementioned place, suffered a single gunshot wound to his head that resulted to his instantaneous death.

Police Superintendent Marlu Conag, chief of Talisay City Police, said Paradiro was with his wife watching a volleyball game several meters away from their residence when the unidentified gunman appeared behind him and, without apparent reason, shot the victim once using an undetermined firearm.

Meanwhile, a 31-year-old engineer was also shot dead at James Village, Barangay Linao-Lipata, Minglanilla, Cebu by two unidentified suspects.

The victim, Jade Lobitaña, was allegedly having a drinking spree with his co-workers inside their compound when the suspects suddenly barged in and shot the victim several times hitting the different parts of his body.

Lobitaña’s co-worker, Ronnielove Josol, 27, who sat beside him, tried to cover the victim and suffered a gunshot wound in his buttocks.