70-year-old man shot dead in Pagadian City

PAGADIAN CITY–A 70-year-old man here was shot dead by unidentified suspects on Tuesday, barely a day after he celebrated his birthday.

Marcial Ortega slumped dead some 100 meters away from his family’s store at the wharf area in Barangay Sta. Lucia here after being attacked around 5 a.m.

Superintendent Benito Recopuerto, the city police chief, said Ortega, a port laborer, died from multiple bullet wounds.

At least six fired cartridges for .45 caliber pistol and a slug were found near his body.

The victim’s wife, Sita, said her husband had received death threats in December but she was not privy to the details.

Recopuerto said an investigation was still being conducted to determine the motive and identities of the perpetrators.

Ortega’s killing was the latest in the series of unsolved attacks perpetrated by armed men here.

On Sunday, unidentified men riding in tandem on a motorbike, also shot dead a 13-year-old boy who was on his way home to Barangay Sta. Lucia here from an Internet cafe.

Witnesses said the victim, Saidamen Diamla, a resident of Purok Makabibihag Uno in the said village even pleaded for his life by kneeling before the suspects but they shot him anyway.

On January 18, 29-year-old fish port laborer Jovanie Mamawe Ajo was also shot dead while heading home from a house blessing.

Like Diamla, Ajo also tried to escape death but was chased by two men on a motorbike before killing him with two shots.