LC brgy official shot dead; 1 suspect nabbed

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.