A FORMER prisoner was shot dead by four motorcycle-riding assailants in Sitio Centro, Barangay Tingub, Mandaue City on Saturday afternoon, Aug. 24, 2019.
Police Staff Sgt. Richard Cabello, investigator, identified the victim as Erek Jay Limutan, also known as “Danny” Limutan.
The victim had served time at the New Bilibid Prison in Muntinlupa City after he was convicted for robbery cases.
Cabello said Limutan was reportedly released from prison earlier this year.
According to him, the victim was eating in a siomai stall near the Tingub Barangay Hall when he was shot from behind by the bonnet-wearing culprits around 5:30 p.m.
Limutan was rushed to the nearest hospital, but he was declared dead on arrival. He succumbed to 14 gunshot wounds in different parts of his body.
Cabello said he was looking at several possible reasons behind the murder, but he was convinced that the killers had personal grudges against Limutan.
He said the perpetrators could be members of a robbery group where Limutan used to be a member. The victim, he said, might have figured into a conflict after his release from prison.
Asked if Limutan had gotten into serious trouble after his release, his live-in partner told Cabello that Limutan was a changed man.
Limutan was hired as a driver at the Tingub Barangay Hall. He also worked as a part-time motorcycle-for-hire driver.
Cabello said he will look for security cameras from establishments near the crime scene.
The culprits fled towards Barangay Maguikay.
“We have witnesses who saw that there were actually four of them. Both the backriders shot the victim. But we have yet to get their affidavits since none of them are ready to fully cooperate. They are still in a state of shock,” Cabello said.
Recovered from the crime scene were nine fired cartridges from a .45 pistol, three fired bullets and a deformed slug. (WBS)