A RETIRED member of the United States Postal Service (USPS) was shot dead by still unidentified gunmen onboard a motorcycle on Saturday afternoon, October 13, in Barangay Dolores, City of San Fernando.
Superintendent Levi Hope Basilio, chief of police of the City of San Fernando, said the victim identified as Ferminjun Malonzo, a Kapampangan with US citizenship, was ambushed by two still at large assailants in Sitio Makabakle in the said barangay at around 2:30 in the afternoon.
“According to the compiled statements of the witnesses, the suspects have been tailing the car of the victim and when it stopped, the suspects took the opportunity to shoot at the victim,” Basilio told Sun.Star Pampanga.
Basilio added that Malonzo was proclaimed dead on the spot after sustaining at least five gunshots in his body, while his companions inside the vehicle were not injured during the incident.
Asked about the possible motive of the killing, Basilio said they were still conducting thorough and deeper investigation, but he dismissed politics or robbery.
He said they were looking into Malonzo’s money lending business.
“We have looked at all possible motives on the killing and so far, we do not see any connection to politics and even robbery. We are focusing now on the money lending business of the victim, as well as his relationship with his friends,” he said.
Basilio said they have already obtained footages from closed circuit television (CCTV) in the area, but have yet to identify the gunmen who were allegedly wearing masks and helmets when they committed the crime.
Basilio said the victim’s family was in close coordination with the police to determine the motive and identify the assailants.