ILOILO City – A tricycle driver was shot to death by a motorcycle-riding gunman yesterday morning in Barangay Bonifacio, Arevalo district.
The 40-year-old Arnold Elipio, a resident of the place, was a tokhang surrenderee.
“Dugay ko na siya nga kabulig kag sa akon gid siya nagdako, mabuot gid nga bata. Wala siya record kung ano man pero dati siya nga drug surrenderee,” village chief Allan Macazar of Barangay Bonifacio told Panay News.
Macazar said they heard five consecutive gunshots past 8 a.m. and three more after a few seconds.
“Una nakabati ako lima ka lupok, tapos nag-stop siya mga seconds lang siguro, tapos sunod naman ang tatlo ka linupok,” said Macazar.
Meanwhile, the victim’s live-in partner, Marvie Valentin, 33, said Elipio was kind and a responsible head of the family.
Elipio was on board his tricycle with his passenger, Gereldine Diocson, a barangay secretary, when he was attacked.
Residents told the authorities that the victim tried to escape and, when he fell to the ground, the gunman got off his motorcycle and finished Elipio off.
Seven fired cartridges of a .40 pistol, one .40 pistol ammunition, one fired cartridge of a .25 pistol and a deformed fired bullet were recovered.
“Wala pa gid natapos ang aton sini nga investigation kay gina id-id gid naton kag ginapadalman para kompleto ang aton information kag maka-file kita sang nagakaigo nga kaso,” said Arevalo police captain Mavin Laraño.
Closed-circuit camera television footage showed the male suspect on a black scooter wearing a gray shirt, denim trousers and a gray helmet./PN
