ITOGON, Benguet – Two pocket miners were injured after they were reportedly shot by a lone gunman within their working area at Otek, Antamok, Ucba, here Saturday
Senior Superintendent Floratne Camuyot, officer-in-charge of the Benguet Provincial Police Office, identified the victims as Alladin Darnagon Bosway, 33, single, miner, and a resident of Pacdal, Siapno road, Baguio City and Mario Paway Badong, 36, married, miner, and a resident of Otek, Antamok, Ucab, Itogon, Benguet.
Initial police investigation showed that the victims, together with their fellow pocket miners, proceeded to their working area when they heard an explosion with the subsequent cascading of huge boulders of rocks that blocked their way to the entrance of their portal.
While they were looking for another way to the entrance of their portal, they saw a certain Mark Panday, a resident of Bua, Tuding, Itogon, Benguet who was allegedly armed with a short firearm who then fired at them several times.
The victims and their companions tried to retreat from the area but the suspect repeatedly fired at them hitting the duo on the different parts of their bodies.
The Baguio General Hospital and Medical Center (BGHMC) for medical treatment while the suspect is now the subject of a manhunt operation for him to answer for the frustrated homicide and gun ban violation to be filed against him before the provincial prosecutor’s office.
By Dexter A. See