Gun rampage in Aklan town fair kills 2 girls

ILOILO CITY—Tragedy struck on the eve of the town fiesta of Libacao in Aklan province on Monday after a gunman shot dead two girls and wounded six other persons at a fair.

Police are hunting suspect Jonathan Felix, a laborer, who allegedly shot the victims near a revetment along Aklan River at the town proper around 9:20 p.m.

Insp. Jerick Vargas, Libacao police chief, identified the fatalities as Antonina Ricablanca, 16, and Sarasi Katimpo, 14, who died from gunshot wounds in the head that were believed to be from a homemade 12-gauge shotgun.

The wounded were brought to Dr. Rafael S. Tumbucon Memorial Hospital in the capital town of Kalibo, about 32 kilometers from Libacao.

They included Jay-Ar Agudez, Gilda Nalanagan, Kaycee Apolinario, Patrick Salazar, Cleary Javier and Ariel Idala.

Vargas said the fair was packed with residents when gunfire rang out, sending people to flee and seek cover.

Agudez identified Felix, a village councilman of Hilwan in Tapaz town, Capiz, as the gunman, according to Vargas.

Initial investigation showed that all the victims, except Agudez, were believed to have been hit by stray bullets at the fair.

Investigators are still determining the motive and circumstances that led to the shooting.