Woman and daughter shot inside their house

CEBU, Philippines -  A woman died while her daughter was seriously injured after two men opened fire at them in their house at sitio Lower Proper, Barangay Toong, Cebu City last Saturday afternoon.

The younger woman’s four-year-old child survived the attack after being hidden by the 20-year-old nanny who also sustained a gunshot wound.

The fatality was identified as Vivencia Bacalzo, 61, widow and was engaged in realty business. Her daughter, who was hit once, was identified as Angeles Tabas, 30. The nanny, who is a stay-in-helper, was Lonie Bentual, a native of Pagadian City.

Investigation showed that Bacalzo and Tabas were outside their house pulling each other’s white hair when two men suddenly shot them at 4 p.m.

Bentual was in a room taking care of the baby when she heard the bursts of gunfire outside, followed by a successive knocking at the main door.

She then carried the baby and went out of the room to open the door only to get stunned upon seeing Tabas already bloodied on the floor.

Bacalzo hurriedly entered the house but one of the assailants shot her repeatedly. She slumped on the floor and died. This prompted the nanny to help the mother but she was also shot by the assailant on her leg. She ran away with the baby and went to a nearby riverside to save her life and that of the baby. After confirming that the assailants were no longer around, she sought help from their neighbors.

Tabas was taken to the AFP Central Command Hospital and was transferred to the Chong Hua Hospital while the nanny was taken to the Cebu City Medical Center.

Risalie Jane Johnson, 26, revealed that she was washing clothes outside her house a few minutes before the shooting when the assailants, who covered their heads with banana leaves, approached and asked her where the faith healer named “Lucring” was. She told them the exact location.

Before the two left, they then asked the whereabouts of Bacalzo, to which she answered that she did not know.

PO2 Cristobal Geronimo said they are looking at a business angle as the primary motive behind the incident. — (FREEMAN)