2 persons slain, 5 hurt in Samar town attack

TACLOBAN CITY –– At least two persons died, while five others suffered injuries after a group of armed men attacked them in Sta. Margarita town, Samar Monday afternoon.

Killed during the ambush were Denny Casaljay, 32 a village watchman of Barangay Cagbayacao, Calbayog City; and Orlando Layong, Jr., 30, of Barangay Naga, also of the same city, who died while being transported to the Calbayog District Hospital.

Casaljay suffered bullet wounds on his head, while Layong was hit on his lower abdomen and right elbow.

Among those injured were Conrado Calagos, barangay chairman of Cagbayacao; Gino Calagos, Benedicto Dacarra; Ariel Magbutay; and Ronnie Calagos.

The victims were on board four separate motorcycles when the suspects shot them multiple times.

The suspects, who fled immediately after the incident, were later identified by the victims as Alfredo Mañas, a barangay chairman of Bahay; Edito and Eddie Ampoan; Nelson Cailo; Jojo Burdado; Ikpod; and five others, who were not identified.

Recovered from the scene of the crime were 26 empty shells of 5.56 mm; one empty shell of a caliber 45; and two empty shells of the still-unknown caliber of firearms.

Captain Reynaldo Rollo, police chief of Sta. Margarita said the motive behind the incident remained unknown.

“We cannot give the details on the incident as our investigators are still conducting their investigation,” Rollo said.