2 dead in Masbate shooting

DIMASALANG, Masbate – Two civilians were shot and killed along the national road in Cataingan town in Masbate province late night Tuesday, police said.

A police report on Wednesday said victims Samuel and Antonio, both surnamed Pablo and residents of Barangay (village) Concepcion in Cataingan, were aboard a motorcycle when two unidentified gunmen shot at them in the vicinity of Barangay Poblacion at 10:20 p.m. The victims died on the spot.

The police did not specify how the victims were related to each other.

The suspects, who were also riding a motorcycle, followed the victims before shooting them to death and fleeing towards Masbate City.

Recovered from the crime scene were five fired cartridges of caliber .45 pistol and one deformed fired bullet of an undetermined caliber.

The motive of the killing had yet to be determined while the bodies of the victims were brought to Clemente Funeral Homes for examination.