Ex-cabbie shot dead

A former taxi driver was shot dead while he was playing mahjong in barangay Lapay, Argao town, southern Cebu.

Alan Alberca died instantly after he was shot four times in the head.

Police said the assailant whose head was covered with a cloth, appeared from behind and shot the victim.

The assailant fled after the attack.

Police said a personal grudge could be the motive behind the killing.

Alberca was forced to quit working as a taxi driver when he was waylaid by unidentified gunmen in 2010, said PO3 Renato Nacaytuna of Argao Municipal Police Station.

Nacaytuna said Alberca was the father-in-law of Michael Anthony Villamora, who held his wife and daughter hostage in December 2012 when police served an arrest warrant against him for murder, frustrated murder and attempted murder charges.

In a separate incident in Dalaguete town, a 23-year-old farmer was fatally shot by a man who tried to pacify him after arguing with another man.

The incident happened in sitio Private, barangay Mantalongon, Dalaguete, southern Cebu past 6 p.m. Thursday.

Police identified the fatality as Jovelito de la Peña, who suffered a gunshot wound in the abdomen.

The suspect, Edgardo Arnigo, 45, was arrested after the incident.

Police said Arnigo saw Dela Peña arguing with one Aquino Pueblo while he was on his way home.

Arnigo stepped in and tried to pacify De la Peña and Pueblo, who were both drunk.

Police said Arnigo tried to pull Pueblo away but Dela Peña allegedly hit him in the back with the butt of an improvised shotgun.

Arnigo told police he grappled for the gun when he saw Dela Peña about to attack him again.

Arnigo overpowered Dela Peña, grabbed the shotgun from the victim and shot him.

Arnigo is detained at Dalaguete Police Station pending the filing of homicide charges against him, police said.  /CORRESPONDENT Christine Emily L. Pantaleon