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Saturday, March 01, 2003
Trader, son slain in Sasa ambush
By Aurea A. Gerundio
DAVAO -- A prominent businessman of Compostela Valley Province and his three-year old son died when a lone gunman fired at their car using an M-16 Armalite rifle along Kilometer 11 in Sasa, Davao City early Friday morning.
Killed were Alex Arancon, 37, and his son Alex Jr.
Three other passengers of the car, the businessman's two daughters and his father-in-law, and a bystander were wounded in the attack.
The Arancons were on their way to the Davao International Airport because Alex and his wife Rachel were catching a flight to Manila, after which she would proceed to New Jersey where she works as a nurse in one of the hospitals there.
Wounded when the gunman opened fire at the Izusu Crosswinds car were Racel, 13, and Cristina Myca, 2, both daughters of Alex Sr., and his father-in-law Rogelio Tiu, 62, who was driving the vehicle at the time of the attack.
Another victim hit by stray bullets is 13-year-old Renante Mahusay, a resident of Kilometer 11.
PO3 Alfredo Heliane, Sasa Police Station investigator, said that as Alex Sr. was approaching the Sasa pedestrian overpass just near the crowded public market in Kilometer 11, he had to slow down to avoid hitting a man who was pushing a cart across the road.
Seconds later, the man pulled out an M-16 rifle and repeatedly fired at the occupants of the car.
Only Rachel was not hit. Tiu sustained a single wound in the hand. Most of the bullets were reportedly directed at the right side of the vehicle where Alex Sr. was seated.
Alex Jr. died on the spot while his father, believed to be the real target of the attack, expired later at the Davao Medical Center.
Doctors declared those who were injured in the attack out of danger later Friday.
After pumping several bullets at the Arancon's car, the gunman rode a motorcycle driven by another man. They then fled in the direction of San Jose Village in Sasa.
Witnesses said they saw the two transferring to a black vehicle without plates along the highway in Landmark 3, Panacan.
Recovered at the crime scene were 13 empty shells of an M-16 rifle and the casing of a tennis racket.
Heliane said Friday's attack was the second attempt on the life of Alex Sr.
"Makig-coordinate pa mi sa police sa ComVal ug Tagum para ma-trace unsay background ni Arancon," Heliane added. (We will coordinate with the police of Compostela Valley and Tagum to check on the background of the Arancons.)
Police, according to Heliane, are looking into business rivalry as the possible motive of the ambush.
Davao City Police Office Director Conrado Laza ordered his men to immediately solve the killing.
Sun.Star sources said the Arancons are a landed and very wealthy family in the municipality of Pantukan, Compostela Valley, where they are into several business ventures.
Alex Sr.'s older brother, Bebot, reportedly ran for a seat in the Provincial Board but lost.
Alex Sr. also reportedly owned the Arancon Lumber Yard located at Suazo Street in Davao City. Sun.Star Davao |
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