3 slain in Masbateshooting incidents

By Mar S. Arguelles

THREE persons were killed on Sunday, Mar. 14, in separate shooting incidents in the towns of Cataingan and Aroroy in Masbate province, a police report said.

In Cataingan, Masbate, Jhone Andaya of Barangay Usab, and Jamark Amador of Barangay Nursery, both ice cream vendor from Masbate City, were slain when waylaid by still unidentified gunmen at around 5:00 PM in Barangay Cagbatang, Cataingan town, according to Major Maria Luisa Calubaquib, Bicol police spokesperson.

The report said the victims were traveling onboard a tricycle from Barangay Lihong on the way to Barangay Poblacion in Cataingan when they were fired at by a gunman that killed them on the spot.

Recovered from the crime scene were eight spent shells for a 5.56mm firearm and nine shells for a 9mm handgun.

Meanwhile, in Aroroy, Masbate, Joel Torres, 42, a gold panner of Barangay Syndicate, was killed after an altercation with a fellow gold panner.

The suspect, Rommel Manlapas alias “Bong Labo” 45, of the same village eluded arrest.

The police report said before the gun attack, the two reportedly had a heated argument that led to a fistfight. The suspect then left the scene and returned armed with an unknown handgun and shot the victim twice on the chest.

The victim died on the way to the Aroroy Municipal Hospital.