by Miriam G. Desacada
Tacloban City–Charges are set to be filed by the police against six suspects in a shooting incident at a river in Gandara, Samar Thursday (August 17) afternoon that resulted in the killing of two civilians and wounding of two others, all of who were on board a motorboat.
Initial reports from the Gandara Police about the shooting only identified the two fatalities and the two wounded, but there was no disclosure yet on what were the motives of the suspects in shooting at the motorboat passengers or on who was actually their target.
Killed were Sammy Jumadiao, a 37-year-old motorboat passenger, and Rolandao Casaljay, the motorboat operator.
The wounded victims were identified as Teresito Piczon, 58, reportedly an aspirant for barangay captain in the coming Barangay Elections, and a certain Marvin Taduyo, 29, who was not mentioned if he was also a passenger of the motorboat.
The wounded were taken to the Gandara District Hospital (GDH), but a latest report from the police stated that one of them was already released from the hospital immediately after, although it was not stated on who was the one discharged from treatment.
All of the victims are residents of Gandara’s Barangay Caugbusan, which is almost 20 kilometers north of the población and near the town’s boundaray with adjacent town of Sta. Margarita. This village can be reached by riding a motorboat or by hiking.
Case investigator, P/Staff Sgt. Ariel Salazar, told the local media in a phone interview, that the police have three witnesses who executed affidavits under oath. “These merit sufficient evidence to establish cases against the six suspects,” he said.
“Two of the six were the ones who actually fired shots at the victims, while the four others have other participation to the incident,” Salazar added.
Identities of the witnesses and the suspects are still withheld until after the filing of the cases in court. The police are still waiting for the results of the medico-legal examinations.
Salazar added that one of the wounded victims was moved to another hospital for further medical attention. —Miriam G. Desacada