Bacolod City businessman shot dead

FILE PHOTO

BACOLOD CITY, Negros Occidental Philippines — A businessman was shot dead by a still unidentified gunman on a motorcycle along the Circumferential Road in Barangay (village) Villamonte, Bacolod City, about 1 a.m. Saturday.

Francisco Loarca, 61, suffered gunshot wounds in the neck and left arm, said Senior Insp. Benedicto Villarias.

The victim was rushed to the Doctors’ Hospital in Bacolod but was declared dead by physicians, said Villarias.

He said the police have been looking into the possibility that the killing was related to business and that the gunman and his driver might be guns-for-hire.

Police investigation showed that the victim was about to park his Toyota Rav 4 sports utility vehicle near the hotel when the gunman on board a red motorcycle, driven by an unidentified companion, blocked his path.

The rider pointed a gun towards the victim and fired four times, Villarias said.

He said the suspects were wearing bonnets and their motorcycle had no plate number.

Witnesses described the gunman to be of slim built and with dark complexion, Villarias said.

Four empty shells of a .45 caliber pistol were recovered from the crime scene and were subjected to ballistic examination, Villarias said.