Barangay captain’s brother shot dead

CEBU, Philippines - A tricyle driver who is the brother of Pardo barangay captain Fermin Dasmariñas was shot dead while plying his route along sitio Laray, Barangay Inayawan last Wednesday night.

Antonio “Onyot” Dasmariñas, 50, a resident of Barangay Inayawan, died immediately due to the gunshot wound to the back of his head.

Dasmariñas was driving his tricycle at past 7 pm when he was shot by an unidentified person.

Two suspects reportedly fled on foot and was seen heading towards Barangay Pardo. Police conducted a hot pursuit operation but failed to arrest the assailant.

The victim slumped in the driver’s seat while the motorcycle swerved  into a canal and stopped.

Personnel from the Basak-Pardo Emergency Rescue responded and declared the victim already dead.

SPO1 Ruth Violango, of the Homicide Section, said that based on the information they gathered, the victim had a verbal tussle with someone earlier that day.

Violango said they have the names of two possible suspects, who allegedly had an argument with the victim prior to the incident. One of the two already denied the accusations.

The barangay captain, meanwhile, wondered why his brother was shot.

But prior to the incident, he learned that his brother had a verbal tussle at the tricycle parking area allegedly over passengers.

“Sus, nganu gyud kaha, tungod lang intawon sa pasahero iya nang gipatay akong igsuon. Maayo gud nang tawo, (Why did he do that? He killed my brother over a passenger. My brother was a good person.) ” Fermin Dasmariñas said.

Police are still conducting through investigation and are still looking for other possible suspects behind the attack.  (FREEMAN)