FLORA, Apayao – A 37-year old labourer who was included in the drug watch list died after he was shot to death by two still unidentified motorcycle-riding armed men in front of his residence at Camoa St. Poblacion West, here, Monday afternoon.
Senior Superintendent Felix Dayag, officer-in-charge of the Apayao Provincial Police Office, identified the fatality as Edmund Cascayan Tungpalan, 37,married, laborer, and a resident of Camia St., Poblacion West, Flora, Apayao.
Initial police investigation showed the victim was unloading a set of furnitures from his mini-dump truck when the two motorcycle-riding armed men suddenly arrived and parked their vehicle a few meters away.
One of the suspects allegedly alighted from the motorcycle and went near the victim then fired at him hitting him on his body.
The victim tried to ran from the crime scene but he was followed by the suspect and shot him several times on the different parts of his head and body before fleeing towards an undisclosed direction using the motorcycle as their getaway vehicle.
The victim was rushed by concerned residents to the Flora District Hospital before being transferred to the Cagayan Valley Medical Center for medical treatment but he was declared dead on arrival by attending physicians due to fatal gunshot wounds on his head and body.
Responding police operatives and elements of the Scene of the Crime Operation (SOCO) team recovered from the crime scene three spent shells of a calibre .45 pistol which was used by the suspect in the perpetration of the crime.
The case is still undergoing investigation to ascertain the motive behind the commission of the crime.
By Dexter A. See