TACLOBAN City – A habal-habal driver was shot dead Thursday by a village chair while asking for a certification to avail the financial aid under the Social Amelioration Program (SAP) in Albuera, Leyte.
Authorities identified the victim as Paulito Paton-og Pelicano, 39, a resident of Sitio Panhugan, Brgy. Sherwood of said town.
Initial investigation showed that the victim, together with his friend Jaime Agcang, went to the house of the suspect identified as Andres Cruz, 46, to ask for a barangay certification when the latter, with no apparent reason, suddenly drew a firearm tucked on his waist and shot the victim four times at around 9:40 a.m.
Pelicano sustained four gunshot wounds in the left side portion of the body. He was immediately brought by his companion to OSPA Farmers Medical Center in Ormoc City where he died at around 11:00 a.m.
Cruz was immediately arrested by the responding police officers who seized from him a .45-caliber gun loaded with two live ammunition.
Also recovered from the crime scene were three fired cases for .45-caliber pistol, police said.
The suspect and the confiscated items were brought to Albuera Municipal Police Station for documentation and proper disposition. (Marie Tonette Marticio)