LUNA, Apayao – A 38-year old employee of a government hospital died after he was repeatedly shot to death by still unidentified motorcycle-riding armed suspects right in front of the health facility at Quirino, here, recently.
Police authorities identified the victim as Ricky Novus Vicente, 38, married, Admin Aide of the Far North General Hospital and Training Center and a resident of barangay Balasi, Flora, Apayao.
Initial police investigation showed that the victim was about to open the door of his parked car in the hospital compound when the two motorcycle-riding armed suspects arrived and stopped approximately 10 meters away from where he was situated.
At this juncture, the back rider suddenly alighted, proceeded to where he was positioned and successively fired at him until he was sprawled bloodied on the ground.
The suspects immediately fled the crime scene using the getaway motorcycle and proceeded towards San Isidro Sur while the victim was brought to the hospital by the duty security guard where he was pronounced dead on arrival by attending physicians due to multiple gunshot wounds on his body.
Responding police operatives and elements of the Scene of the Crime Operation (SOCO) team recovered from the crime scene five spent shells of caliber .45 pistol which was used by the suspects in the perpetration of the crime.
The victim was said to be a drug surrenderer of the Luna Municipal Police Station who was classified as a drug user.
By Dexter A. See