Police eye personal grudge in two shooting incidents in Carcar

This is a stock photo of a man shooting a gun.

CEBU CITY, Philippines — Carcar City police are looking at personal grudge as the reason behind the shooting to death of a balut vendor and an ex-convict that happened exactly a month apart.

Carcar City police chief Allan Rosario said their investigation has led them to believe that personal grudge was behind the killing of Isidro Padigos last March 9 in Barangay Napo, and Wilfredo Ardiente Jr. last February 9 in Barangay Tuyom.

Rosario said that Padigos’ relatives told investigators that the victim had a misunderstanding with a friend over money matters before the shooting incident. They did not elaborate.

Rosario added that they already have the profile of the suspect but will not reveal his identity just yet. He said the suspect is now at large and has reportedly left the city.

Last March 9, Padigos, a balut vendor was shot dead by a lone gunman in Sitio Talamban, Barangay Napo at around 5:45 p.m. Padigos was a resident of Sitio Bonbon, Barangay Ocaña of the same city.

Meanwhile, Rosario said that the same motive is being pursued by his men over the shooting to death of Ardiente last February 9. He added that the victim was incarcerated for illegal drugs in 2013 but was released from jail last December 2020.

Rosario disclosed that the victim had been receiving death threats since he got out of jail. He added that they already have the profiles of the suspects who are currently at large.

Last February 9, Ardiente was walking home with his live-in partner when he stopped by a sari-sari store to buy something. That was when a hail of bullets rained on the victim from unidentified attackers who quickly fled the crime scene. The incident happened at Purok Bayabas in Barangay Tuyom, Carcar City around 8 p,m. /rcg