4 trike riders shot by gunman in SUV

2 DEAD, 2 WOUNDED

                  

                                    By Melvin Tiangson Samson

                                           

SAN JACINTO - Four persons were shot while riding a motorized tricycle along the national highway at Brgy. Sta. Maria here by unidentified gunman/men who were riding a Sports Utility Vehicle (SUV) that overtook the tricycle while both vehicles were heading northward at about 4:45p.m of September 18.The tricycle driver was hit in the head and another male passenger was hit on the body that caused both of them to fall from the tricycle before it hit the electric post. Both of them were pronounced dead at the hospital while two other female passengers are undergoing treatment for the gunshot wounds they sustained.

Initial investigation disclosed, that  a certain Jose Rocero y Macaalay, 55, and a resident of Poblacion, Mapandan, Pangasinan was driving his red STX Yamaha motorized tricycle, with plate No. OZ-5780, with three passengers Bernardo Moyargas y Villosillo, 66,  separated, farmer, former safety officer of Philex Mines, Maria Lourdes Rodolfa y Acol, 50, separated, vendor and Dory Quiros y Toralba, 45, separated, vendor, all residents of Brgy. Macayug, Mangaldan, Pangasinan were travelling along the national road of Brgy. Sta. Maria, in this town of Pangasinan heading toward north direction when a white SUV, heading toward the same direction overtook the tricycle and successively shot the driver and passengers causing the tricycle to swerve and incidentally hit the electric post. All the occupants of the tricycle sustained gunshot wounds and they were all rushed to the Manaoag Community Hospital in Brgy. Baritao for medical treatment but the driver  Rocero, who sustained gunshot wound on his head and Moyargas, who sustained gunshot wound on his body, who both fell from the tricycle several meters away before the tricycle hit the electric post,  were declared dead on arrival (DOA) by the attending physician at the emergency room of the hospital while the two other female passengers are undergoing medical treatments.

The assistance of SOCO Urdaneta was requested to process the crime scene and they were able to recover one (1) Norinco Cal.45 with Serial no. 7708053 with six live ammos allegedly owned by the victim Jose Rocero, 16 fired cartridge cases of Cal.45, two deformed fired bullet for Cal. 45 and one metal jacket fragment.

Initial investigation did not reveal the motive(s) of the perpetrators of the crime.  However, the joint probers of the PIDMB, the Pangasinan PPO and the San Jacinto Police Station are still conducting in-depth investigations to identify and apprehend the possible suspect(s).Witness(es) to the said heinous crime as well as those who may know the suspect(s)’ hide-out may contact the local police station for the early resolution of the crime and to deliver justice to the victims and their families,  as citizens’ concern and cooperation may greatly help the police officers and the institution where they belong,  in performing their duties and responsibilities to the community, town, province and the society as a whole. Mere reporting of the SUV’s plate number will be a great lead of information to the police investigators