BACOLOD City – The victim of a Cadiz City shooting incident in the hinterlands of Sitio Alimatoc, Barangay Celestino Villacin, or “Hiyang-Hiyang,” around 6 p.m. on Wednesday has been identified.
Police Chief Inspector Rocky Desear, Cadiz City police head, identified the victim as Laarnie Pepito, 36, of Sitio Spur 2 in Barangay Minapasok, Calatrava, Negros Occidental.
“Hiyang-Hiyang” is about 49 kilometers from Cadiz City proper, police said.
Desear said the victim is a notorious hold up suspect and motorcycle thief in the area.
But this was denied by his mother who was able to identify the victim as his son at the local mortuary in Cadiz City.
The mother even told police that she suspects RPA (Revolutionary Proletarian Army) members she identified as Joy Padilla and John Escobar in the killing of her son.
Police disclosed that the victim was riding his Haujoe motorcycle when unidentified suspects shot him, sustaining gunshot wounds to different parts of his body from an unknown caliber of firearm.
The victim was brought by barangay officials to Cadiz City Emergency Clinic but was declared DOA (dead-on-arrival) by Dr. Rebecca Joy Marquez.
Police recovered from the scene of the crime six empty shells of M16 Armalite; one empty shell of caliber .45; one live bullet of caliber .45; one holster of a .38 caliber revolver; one orange bull cap; one pair of slippers and P254 in cash money./PN
