Alleged snitch gunned down in QC; woman hit by stray bullet
MANILA, Philippines—An alleged police informant was shot dead by motorcycle-riding assailants and a widow was wounded by a stray bullet in Quezon City lat Tuesday night.
Roel Toroba, 43, of Bansalangin Street in Barangay Payatas, instantly died from multiple gunshot wounds in the head and body while bystander Cherry Lantaca, 37, of Majaas Street in Barangay Payatas-B, sustained a bullet wound in the hip and is still undergoing treatment at the East Avenue Medical Center.
The suspects, who both wore helmets, sped away on their red XRM motorcycle after the shooting.
PO2 Jogene Hernandez, of the Quezon City Police District Criminal Investigation and Detection Unit, said the incident happened at around 10:30 p.m. Tuesday along Payatas Road near Majaas Street in Barangay Payatas.
Hernandez said that according to Lantaca, she was walking on Payatas Road when she heard gunfire nearby. She then noticed she had been shot in the right hip and saw a pistol-wielding man running towards his companion on a motorcycle. The bike tandem-riding duo then sped away.
Lantaca then realized that the two men had shot another, later identified as Toroba, who was lying bloodied on the ground beside his motorcycle.
Responding barangay peace and security officers found Toroba’s body and sought the help of the police. They then brought the wounded victim to the nearest hospital.
Hernandez said scene of the crime operatives recovered five bullet casings from .45-caliber pistol at the site and found a toy gun tucked in Toroba’s waistband, as well as a pair of handcuffs.
The case investigator theorized that the killing could have been payback from drug offenders, whom Toroba may have crossed. He said Toroba had been tipping off the police to activities of drug peddlers and even participated in several anti-illegal drugs operations.
Hernandez explained that Toroba could have used the toy gun and the handcuffs when he took part in the police operations. (With a report from Bernadette Nicolas)
