A 58-YEAR-OLD pawnshop owner was killed by an unidentified gunman while he was onboard his motorcycle in downtown Cebu City on Monday afternoon, Jan. 30, 2023.

The fatality was identified as Joseph Canonigo, a resident of Barangay Mambaling, Cebu City.

Investigation showed that Canonigo was driving his motorcycle along downtown Cebu City when upon stopping at the intersection of Colon St. and Panganiban St., the gunman from another motorcycle approached him and shot him in the head.

Police recovered a sling bag from the victim. It contained several identification cards, cash and a .45 caliber pistol with two magazines.

Staff Sgt. Kitz Daryl Palaña, an investigator of the Carbon Police Station, said that Canonigo had just visited his pawnshop in a mall on Colon St. and was on his way home when he was shot.

Canonigo was reportedly a former civilian asset of the National Bureau of Investigation.

Maj. Kenneth Albotra, chief of the Carbon Police Station, said they believed that two men were involved in Canonigo’s killing, a gunman and a lookout.

Meanwhile, Cebu City Police Office Director Col. Ireneo Dalogdog said they are considering several motives behind the murder such as a property dispute, business rivalry and love triangle.

The police plan to talk to Canonigo’s family and ask them if the victim had received death threats prior to the killing.

Dalogdog added that his personnel have started gathering video footage from security camera of establishments near the crime scene to help in identifying the perpetrators.

Dalogdog also ordered the Carbon Police Station to fast-track its investigation. (AYB / TPT)