Father, son shot dead, 2 hurt on fiesta eve revelry

BATANGAS CITY–A fish cage caretaker and his son were shot dead while two others were wounded on the eve of a fiesta in Pulo Island, Talisay town in Batangas Sunday night.

Senior Inspector Domingo Ballesteros, Talisay chief of police, in a phone interview Monday morning, identified the dead as Estelito Martinez, 54, and his son Jaycee, 29. Injured were Estelito’s brother Guillermo, 46, and nephew Justine Martinez, 3.

Ballesteros said Estelito was putting up bulbs outside the house at around 7 p.m. when four gunmen arrived and shot him while Jaycee who had just finished his dinner was hit in the abdomen. Guillermo, who was at the back of the house cooking, and Justine who was playing, were both hit by stray bullets.

Estelito suffered multiple bullet wounds from an M16 rifle and a .45-caliber pistol in different parts of the body. He died on the spot while Jaycee was dead on arrival in the hospital.

Guillermo and Justine are now recuperating at a hospital.

Ballesteros added that they have yet to identify the suspects and determine the motive in the killing but said Estelito was clearly the target.

He said neighbors were at the plaza watching stage shows held as part of the celebration of Monday’s fiesta in Pulo Island when the shooting incident occurred.

Ballesteros said they are coordinating with the chiefs of police in nine towns surrounding the Taal Volcano Island to identify the suspects.