(UPDATE) -- A motorcycle-for-hire driver survived the shooting by unidentified armed men whom he believed were police officers on Thursday dawn, October 4, in Barangay Malubog, Cebu City.
Antonio Ruiz Belande, 57, was with the group of five men who were initially reported to have been ambushed in Malubog early Thursday morning. He survived after he was able to run downhill, he said in an interview over dyAB radio. He suffered a graze wound in the body.
He said he did not know the identities of the five men found dead in Malubog.
Belande said the armed men shot him and his other unidentified companions past 3 a.m. Thursday, October 4.
"Ang mitira nako atubangan nako. Wa ko kahibawo sa nagsunod nga pila kabuok nagtira ato kay mideretso na man ko sa ubos," he said. "Naninguha ko maka roll, makaabot ngadto nga makatago gyod ko."
A call center agent was one of the five men who was shot dead, Belande said.
"Nagpakiluoy pa tawon nga dili lang siya patyon kay gagmay iyang mga anak," he said.
He said the men who brought him to the mountain village were armed with automatic rifles.
He said his motorcycle and that of his fellow motorcycle-for-hire driver were driven by suspected police officers.
Belande said when they arrived in Malubog, the white van was already parked. He saw the vehicle because of its headlights.
He also heard the persons who took them mention the surnames Abella and Bautista.
"Miingon man sila asa man diay si Chief Bautista, diay," he said.
The other person mentioned that Abella was calling them through phone.
Prior to the shooting in Barangay Malubog, Belande and a fellow motorcycle-for-hire driver transported two passengers from Barangay Mambaling to TB Pavilion in Cebu City on Wednesday afternoon, October 3.
After they arrived in the area, the two passengers went inside an apartment.
Five to six persons went out and brought the two drivers inside.
"Bag-o tong pulisa tan-aw nako," he said. "Puros pa mga batan-on," Belande said.
They all spoke in Bisaya.
While inside the apartment, Belande said he and his fellow driver were asked about their involvement in illegal drug trade. The two denied any participation, but they were not released.
Belande said they were placed inside the car. He was with two other men in the backseat. The fourth guy was their escort.
In the baggage compartment, there was another man.
A man armed with an armalite sat on the passenger seat. Belande failed to see if the driver was armed.
Belande said they were later blindfolded and their hands were tied behind their backs.
They were later transferred to another vehicle.
Belande said they were told they were going to "kampo (camp)."
"Pagsakay namo sa service, miingon ang pulis duko mo tanan kay taptapan ta mo. Nganong taptapan man mi?" Belande said.
The driver said they did not resist being blindfolded. This was past 8 p.m. of Wednesday.
Belande said they were not given food.
"Nagsige ra mig duko. Ig ingon nila nga ayawg tan-aw, aw, wa gyod mi mitan-aw kay masuko man sila," Belande said.
He said he was able to loosen up the nylon strip that was used to tie his hands until it broke. But he pretended he was still tied.
"Sa akong pagpangusog aron maputol, naputol gyod to nako. Sa akong mata, akong gihinay-hinay og ana aron makita nako asa dapita ang among dagan," he said. "Kailogon na god ko sa manobila para lang manabla nako mamatay nako."
After they arrived in Malubog, Belande said they were forced to get out of the vehicle.
He said he heard someone said, "Unaha ni kay dako."
"Ako may giuna og pusil. Mao to nga layat ko, padung ko sa ubos. Mao ning igo nako sa kilid," Belande said.
Belande was brought to a public hospital in Cebu City. (KAL)