Ecoland shooting: 2 dead

TWO men onboard a private vehicle were shot dead by unidentified gunmen shortly after midnight Saturday near the Davao City Overland Transport Terminal (Dcott) at Ecoland in Matina, Davao City.

The victims were identified as Jonathan Musa Abdulracman, 28, driver of a gray Honda Civic bearing plate number ZLU625 and Tato Pandi Musa, 27, passenger of the said vehicle, both residents of Central Park Subd. in Bangkal. Also aboard the vehicle was a 13-year-old boy who was not hurt in the incident.

Initial investigation conducted by Talomo Police Chief Julius Silagan showed that the victims were travelling from Sandawa Rd. going to Quimpo Blvd, when the gunmen on board a white van, which was following them, peppered them with bullets.

The victims tried to elude the white van but as they reached the junction of Quimpo Blvd. and Sandawa Rd., the suspects continued to shoot the vehicle until it slammed at the steel railings near Accents Customs Furniture on Candelaria St., Ecoland.

Jonathan died on the spot. Tato alighted from the vehicle in an attempt to escape, but was chased by one of the gunmen and shot him dead. The victims were brought to Angel Funeral Parlor on Torres St. for autopsy while the minor is under the custody of Talomo police.

Scene of the Crime Operatives (Soco) in Davao Region conducted a crime scene investigation where they recovered nine empty cartridges of .38 caliber pistol, 10 empty cartridges of 9mm pistol and one empty shell of .45 caliber pistol.

Recovered from the possession of Jonathan were P81,500 worth of cash, three mobile phones, one wrist watch, an expired firearms license card, a permit to carry and one small plastic sachet containing suspected shabu.

Authorities also recovered 15 empty cartridges of 9mm pistol and one deformed slug, two mobile phones, P1,900 cash, a Land Transportation Office (LTO) Davao Region student permit and a driver's license from Tato.

Further search on the vehicle of the victims resulted in the recovery of one big heat-sealed plastic sachet containing suspected shabu hidden under the driver's seat.

Police are now conducting further investigation for possible identification and apprehension of the gunmen. They are also investigating on the victims' involvement in illegal drugs.