ILOILO City – A tricycle driver was shot dead by unidentified motorcycle-riding gunmen in Barangay Pal-agon, Sta. Barbara, Iloilo.
The 54-year-old Victorino Soquitoso of Barangay Amparo, Pavia, Iloilo died of multiple gunshot wounds on the body, a police report showed.
Police Major Raymond Celoso, Sta. Barbara police station chief, said the incident happened around 6:40 p.m. on March 14. The victim was riding on his tricycle when one of the suspects peppered him with bullets. He was rushed to the Western Visayas Sanitarium in Sta. Barbara where the attending physician declared him “dead on arrival.”
Celoso said that prior to the incident, the victim was in their house when he received a phone call from a person whom police investigators did not identify.
The victim reportedly left their house and went to Barangay Pal-agon where the suspects were waiting for him.
Celoso further said “maybe the victim knew the suspects, that’s why and left their house to supposedly meet them.”
“Kakilala ng biktima ang mga suspects kasi tinawagan siya para makaalis sa kanilang bahay,” Celoso said.
Celoso disclosed that they already have the lead about the motive in the killing and identity of the suspects but he refused to mention their names so as not to preempt the ongoing investigation.
“Love triangle ang sinusundan natin pero ang sabi ng mga pamilya ng biktima wala silang relasyon ng babae at magkaibingan lang sila. Baka napagkamalan na may relasyon sila. Walang criminal record ang biktima sa area ko,” Celoso added.
Recovered from the crime scene were four empty shells of a .45-caliber pistol.
For his part, Iloilo Police Provincial director, Colonel Kenneth Lucas, directed all his police chiefs to conduct 24/7 checkpoints on motorcycles.
“I instructed men to conduct a checkpoint and strictly check the documents and identification card of the riders,” said Lucas./PN
