PARACELIS, Mountain Province – A 40-year old ice cream vendor was hurt after he was repeatedly shot by a still unidentified assailant at Marabotbot, Bantay, here Monday afternoon.
Senior Superintendent Cornelio Comila, officer-in-charge of the Mountain Province Provincial Police Office, identified the victim as Peter Areola Dela Cruz, 40, married, ice cream vendor, and a resident of Cordon, Isabela.
Initial police investigation showed the victim was on his way home on board his motorcycle when a still unidentified male person halted him and requested for an ice cream that will be paid later but he refused to do so.
At this juncture, another still unidentified male suspect suddenly came out from a nearby nipa hut, took the bolo of his companion and attempted to hit the victim but he was able to scamper to a nearby house to seek safety.
However, the suspect still followed him and shot him twice hitting his right leg and on the side of his head but he was able to flee from the crime scene until he met two male persons on board a motorcycle who immediately brought him to the Paracelis District Hospital before reporting the incident to the Paracelis Municipal Police Station.
The suspect is now the subject of a manhunt operation by responding police operatives for him to answer for the crime he committed.
By Dexter A. See