Father, son shot dead in Tagoloan town

A FATHER and his son were shot dead by unidentified motorcycle-riding gunmen in Sta. Cruz village, Tagoloan town, Misamis Oriental on Wednesday night, October 18.

Authorities identified the victims as 26-year-old Erwin Daban, 26, and his father Ricardo, 57.

Police said the younger Daban was driving his tricycle with his son and parents as passengers when they were fired upon.

Daban was able to park his tricycle in front of their house and dash inside where he was pursued by the gunmen.

Witnesses told investigators that the father tried to prevent the gunman from going after his son, prompting the gunman to shoot him too.

The gunman fled to the eastern part of the town after the twin killings.

Police said Ricardo was rushed to the hospital but failed to reach the hospital alive.

Senior Inspector Corrine Mae Estigoy, spokesperson of the Misamis Oriental Provincial Police Office, said investigators are looking at the victim’s business as the angle of the shooting.

Estigoy said the victim is involved with “bote-bote” or the unregulated selling of bottled gasoline by the roadside.

"Ang target gyud sa suspects kining si Erwin pero gisulay man og pugong ang papa sa suspek mao to napusilan siya (The suspects are really targeting Erwin but the father tried to stop the shooting that’s why he was shot too)," Estigoy said.

Police said the victims had no prior arrests or derogatory records.

Investigators are still determining the identities of the perpetrators.