By Dominic B. dela Cruz
Staff reporter
Laoag
City—A barangay kagawad of Sta. Maria in
this city was shot dead on Feb. 28 at about 7:40 pm along La Paz Road.
The victim was identified as
Jesus Jacinto, 50 years old.
Initial police investigation
stated that the victim was onboard his tricycle along with a passenger
identified as Jacquiline Balino, 27, married and three other family members on
board inside the side car all from the same barangay, when unidentified malefactors
on board a motorcycle and coming from the opposite direction fired several
times at the victims. Six slugs of bullets from a caliber .45 gun were
recovered from the crime scene.
The victim was immediately rushed
to the Gov. Roque B. Ablan Sr. Memorial Hospital but was pronounced dead on
arrival.
Further investigation
disclosed that the victim sustained several gunshot wounds that went through
different parts of his body.
Ms. Balino, Mr. Jacinto’s
daughter, also sustained gunshot wounds in various parts of her body and was
rushed to the Laoag City General Hospital. She was later transferred to Mariano
Marcos Memorial Hospital and Medical Center in Batac City for further medical
treatment.
The other passengers were
unharmed.
In the ensuing police
investigation, a suspect, identified as Lucky Vhar Maximo, 31, married and
native of Barangay Buena Suerte, Caoayan, Isabela and presently residing at Brgy.
Cabaroan in Bacarra, Ilocos Norte was apprehended at Barangay 58 Casili here in
Laoag while he was trying to evade and flee the crime scene. His other cohorts however
managed to escape.
Laoag police chief P/Supt. Jeffrey T. Gorospe said Mr. Maximo
revealed to police officers the identity of his companions as Jonathan Sapata alias
“Nathan”, 42, married and a resident of Lal-lo, Cagayan and Michael Rumbaoa alias
“Macky” a resident of Brgy. Cabaroan in Bacarra. Mr. Maximo further pointed to
Mr. Sapata as the gunman.
Mr. Gorospe said the suspect
was brought to the police station together with the recovered materials from
the suspect’s possession including Ms. Balino’s bag for processing.
The police immediately filed
violation of Art. 248 (murder) and Art. 250 (frustrated murder) against Mr.
Maximo and his companions.
Mr. Gorospe also revealed
that the suspect has been identified as a robbery hold-up suspect and allegedly
a gun-for-hire in Isabela province.
The police however has not
come up with a motive on the killing. Mr. Jacinto, aside from being a barangay
kagawad, was also a rice dealer, and a tricycle association president.
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