A 44-year-old fisherman from Bohol was killed while two others were wounded after they were reportedly shot while aboard their pumpboat in Sitio Mahayahay 1, Barangay Pasil, Cebu City, last Sunday afternoon.
The fatality was identified as Efren Tancos. Meanwhile, the two wounded individuals were Marvin Duallo Moreno, 27, and Winston Cabigon Caparida, 25. All of them are fishermen from Inabanga, Bohol.
Based on initial reports of the Carbon Police Station 6, Caparida hired Tancos and Moreno and rented their pumpboat to transport him from Bohol to Cebu. Caparida was supposed to pick up his family from Barangay Ermita, Cebu City and bring them back to Bohol.
Police said that at around 2:15 P.M. that day, as the boat they were on was about to dock, shots rang out and Tancos was hit and killed.
Caparida and Moreno were also found covered in blood while aboard the wooden boat.
The victims were taken to the hospital for medical attention, but Tancos was declared dead on arrival.
Cebu City Police Office (CCPO) information officer Police Captain Charisma Gonzales confirmed that there are at least five identified suspects behind the shooting incident; their identities were not yet disclosed.
‘Na-consider pud nato sila na mga suspects kay sila ra man ang mga naay motibo ani nga hitabo,’ she said, adding that the victims and possible suspects knew each other.
She said that personal grudge is one of the angles the authorities are looking into to determine the motive of the crime, but investigators are also examining deeper and other possible motives.
Gonzales also said that upon investigating the case, they have not determined yet the specific firearm used by the suspects as they didn’t find any bullet casings.
‘Unfortunately, wala mi’y nakuha g’yud nga mga casing or mga empty (bullet) shells kay didto man sa dagat. So, basin nangalubog pa didto. Dili pa namo ma-identify unsay mga gipangamit na mga caliber sa firearms,’ she said.
Meanwhile, follow-up operations on the incident are still ongoing while the two wounded victims, who are currently recovering, are also being questioned to further determine the identities of the said suspects.