A boxing trainer of ALA Boxing Gym was shot dead early yesterday morning while buying beer at a store in Centro, Barangay Labogon, Mandaue City, Cebu.
Police reported witnesses as saying Lowie Bantigue was shot dead by one Danilo Pepito who got mad because the former boxer had allegedly harassed his daughter by kissing her.
Bantigue, 28, suffered four gunshot wounds at the back of the head and died on the spot.
SPO1 Gregorio Cabizares of the Mandaue City Police Station 3 said Pepito is on the police’s wanted list due to his alleged involvement in illegal drugs.
‘Kamaong Mandaue’
Bantigue became a trainer at the ALA Boxing Gym following his retirement in 2012.
According to www.boxrec.com, Bantigue, known during his prime as “Sige-Sige” or “Kamaong Mandaue”, had a boxing record of 21 wins, 12 by knockout. He had 21 losses – eight by knockout — and seven draws. His last fight was on Dec. 16, 2012 at the Big Dome Coliseum in Escalante City, Negros Occidental where he lost to Melvin Gumban.
Cabizares said Bantigue went to a store to buy beer about 2 a.m. when Pepito suddenly appeared and repeatedly shot him at the back of the head. The assailant then fled.
He said the victim was no longer taken to the hospital as he was already dead due to severe head wounds. Recovered from the scene was a slug of still unidentified firearm.
Based on some witnesses’ accounts, Cabizares said that before the shooting, Bantigue allegedly harassed Pepito’s daughter by kissing her, which angered the suspect.
Edito “ALA” Villamor, the head coach and chief trainer at ALA boxing gym, said Bantigue had been a trainer for five months and had shown good performance.
“He was well-loved by our boxers,” Villamor said.
Michael Aldeguer, president of ALA Promotions said that he is still in shock after hearing of Bantigue’s tragic death.
“It’s shocking. I still can’t believe it. I haven’t thought about it yet,” Aldeguer told Cebu Daily News in a phone interview.
“He was a very nice kid. He was very promising. He was also a veteran boxer,” Aldeguer added.
The boxing promoter said they will give all the support and assistance they could provide to Bantigue’s family./with Norman V. Mendoza