2 dead, 2 wounded in shooting at Pangasinan quarry site

DAGUPAN CITY, Pangasinan — Two workers in a quarry site at the Agno River were killed while two others were wounded in a Tuesday (July 25) shooting perpetrated by a former village official at Santa Maria town in Pangasinan province.

Lyniel Joaquin, 20, a mechanic, was shot and killed at dawn,  while Gregie Molina and Bert Cabanilla were shot on their way to the quarry site at about 6:25 a.m. in Barangay (village) Cauplasan, said Senior Insp. Glen Dulay, Santa Maria police chief.

Molina was killed, while Cabanilla was being treated in a hospital. The fourth victim, Lyn Calopez, suffered a gunshot wound and was also undergoing treatment.

The suspect, Crisencio Lagua, 49, was immediately arrested. A homemade .22 caliber pistol was seized from him.

Lagua and the victims belonged to a group operating a quarry site in the Agno River.  Lagua apparently had a misunderstanding with the victims and believed they were conspiring against him, said Dulay.

Lagua would be facing murder and frustrated murder cases.