Ex-soldier found dead at home

A former soldier was found dead in his home in barangay Pandacan, Pinamungajan town, southwest Cebu.

Retired Master Sgt. Alfonzo Birao Mahusay, an 87-year-old widower, was found dead in his two-story house with a pillow covering his face.

The perpetrator may have used the pillow to suffocate the victim, PO1 Marcelo Inso, desk officer of Pinamungajan police station, said.

Dr. Sheila Faciol, health officer of Pinamungajan, confirmed that the victim died of suffocation, police said.

Police said robbery could be the motive of the killing.

The victim’s wallet was missing and the things inside his room were in disarray when he was found unconscious by his errand boy on top of a bed early morning Friday, police said.

Mario Gorres said he went to the victim’s house to feed his gamefowls when he noticed that the lights in the Mahusay’s room was still open.

Gorres went to the victim’s room to check and saw the victim unconscious.

Police said there were no signs of forced entry in the victim’s room, indicating that he knew the assailant.

Last month, the victim reported to the police that his firearm and some cash were stolen from his house.

Another ex-soldier and his wife were critically wounded after they were shot by an unidentified assailant in Talisay City.

In sitio Libo, barangay Mohon, Talisay, Brigido Villavelez, 62, and Carmen Tagalog Villavelez, 42, were shot by a lone gunman who could be a gun-for-hire, said SPO1 Mikie Espina of the Talisay City police.

The couple owns a rice mill in the barangay.

Villavelez, who was assigned in Mindanao when he was still in active service in the military, suffered a gunshot wound in the head. His wife was wounded in left shoulder, back and waist.

The victims were brought to a Cebu City hospital.

Police said personal grudges could be the motive of the attack.

Police said the assailant was earlier seen buying cigarettes from a store then approached the couple.

The perpetrator pretended that he was there to buy rice before drawing the gun and shot the victims.

The assailant fled after the attack.

Police recovered three empty shells and one slug of an undetermined firearm in the crime scene.