Couple killed in Tagum City; Catholic Church worried by spate of killings

TAGUM CITY, Davao del Norte, Philippines – Motorcycle-riding criminals struck anew here Wednesday night, killing an elderly couple even as the local Catholic Church voiced concern over the spate of shootings in recent months.

Adriano Razonable, 60, and his wife Generosa, 52, died upon arrival at the Bishop Regan Memorial Hospital following the 9:50 p.m. ambush along the Tagum-Mati national road in Barangay (Village) Apokon, said Superintendent Marcial Magistrado, police spokesperson for Southern Mindanao.

The couple was onboard a green Suzuki Multicab-type jeep driven by Adriano on their way home to Cristina Homes Subdivision also in Apokon, when a black Honda XRM motorcycle — without a plate number and with two helmet-wearing men onboard — overtook them, said Magistrado, quoting a report from Tagum City police.

“One of the gunmen shot the victims several times using a cal. 45 pistol before speeding off,” Magistrado said, adding that responding policemen recovered 10 spent shells and two slugs from cal. 45 bullets.

He said police have been investigating the case.

The Tagum Diocese, which covers Davao del Norte and nearby Compostela Valley, has expressed condemnation over the upsurge of shootings perpetrated by motorcycle-riding assailants in the city.

Homilies during masses have denounced the attacks, with priests urging police and local authorities to work in solving the cases.

Last month, at least 11 shootings occurred in Tagum, killing 10 people, city police officials said.