Liloan councilman dead, dispatcher hurt in shooting

CEBU, Philippines - A councilman was shot dead by unidentified assailants in a motorcycle in Sitio Fatima Barangay Jubay, Lilo-an late Thursday night.

 Erwin Yonco Sarmiento, 48, died on the spot after sustaining gunshot wounds to different parts of his body, said PO2 Eric Pentoy of the Lilo-an Police Station.

 Pentoy said the incident happened around 10:30 p.m.

 Investigation revealed that Sarmiento was driving his red motorcycle (GE 64084) bound for the northern part of Cebu when the suspects shot him. The suspects then reportedly sped off right after.

 Pentoy said the shooting injured a woman who was also driving a motorcycle identified as Charise Balverde, who was hit in the thigh. Balverde was brought to the Vicente Sotto Memorial Medical Center for treatment.

Investigation revealed further that Sarmiento was a drug surrenderer.

 "Drug surrenderer ni siya last July 7, 2016… dugay na sad siyang konsehal (sa barangay)," Pentoy said.

 In Cebu City, a jeepney and tricycle dispatcher landed in the hospital after he was shot several times by unidentified suspects while having a meal by the street in Pahina Central dawn yesterday.

The victim, Anthony Gañolon, 34, is lucky to survive the attack. He is recovering at the Cebu City Medical Center. It was his wife who pedaled a tricycle to rush him to the hospital.

Investigation revealed that Gañolon was eating noodles when the suspects arrived on board a motorcycle. The man riding in pillion then disembarked and shot him.

The gunman was wearing a black bonnet and a red jacket.

Gañolon's wife told the police her husband does not have any enemy in the area. She admitted, though that he uses illegal drugs. 

Police retrieved from the crime scene five empty shells of a caliber .45 firearm. — Christell Fatima M. Tudtud and Mae Clydyl L. Avila (FREEMAN)