Couple, toddler shot dead in Lapu-Lapu city

CEBU City, Philippines—A couple and their 3-year-old son were shot dead by three unidentified armed men, who barged into their home in Lapu-Lapu City Thursday morning.

The police identified the fatalities as Fernando Canillo, 58; his live-in partner, Emma Beranges, 36; and son Fernando II.

Police Officer 1 Allan Sugone of the Lapu-Lapu police station 3 said Emma’s brother Ricric Laraño Beranges was wounded and was taken to a hospital in Cebu City.

Investigators said they were looking at robbery and personal grudge as possible motives behind the killing.

Senior Superintendent Anthony Obenza, Lapu-Lapu City police director, said they found an open vault on a table in the living room, a few feet from where the bodies were found.

He said the vault was empty except for some envelopes that might have contained land titles.

Both Emma and Fernando were from Iligan City before they moved to Sitio (settlement) Judasbelt, Babag II, in Lapu-Lapu.

Police investigation showed that the couple and their son had just returned from the nearby market in Barangay (village) Babag II and were in the living room around 6 a.m. when the assailants barged in and fired at them.

The armed men then fled on board a silver Toyota Corolla sedan.

Obenza said the neighbors had noticed the car was parked near the home of the victims as early as 4 a.m. Thursday. But the neighbors did not inform the police about it, even if the vehicle had no license plate.