Businessmen shot dead in Pangasinan

DAGUPAN CITY – Two businessmen were gunned down by still unidentified motorcycle-riding assailants in Sta. Maria town in Pangasinan province, police said on Friday.

Police identified the victims as Eduardo Toralba, 49; and Medina Bato, 50. Toralba died even before reaching the Eastern Pangasinan District Hospital in Tayug town while Bato died hours after in the same hospital, according to police.

Sta. Maria police chief Sr. Insp. Glen Dulay said the business partners were traversing an interior road in Barangay (village) Dalayap, Sta. Maria town when men aboard three motorcycles suddenly appeared and shot them around 8:10 a.m. Thursday.

Dulay said investigators were still trying to establish the motive of the killing.

Investigators recovered from the crime scene 22 fired cartridges from a 9-mm pistol, and four fired cartridges from a .45-caliber gun.                         /kga