Cebu City shooting: E-bike driver killed, police after persons-of-interest

An e-bike driver lost his life after he was allegedly shot in the head and other parts of his body by an assailant in an alley in Sitio Ipil-Ipil Alaska, Barangay Mambaling, Cebu City on Tuesday evening, October 17,2023. | Contributed photo via Paul Lauro

CEBU CITY, Philippines – A 34-year-old driver of an e-bike was killed after he was allegedly shot by an assailant while walking along an alley in Sitio Ipil-Ipil Alaska in Barangay Mambaling, Cebu City on Tuesday evening, October 17, 2023.

The police report revealed that at around 9:15 p.m., a concerned citizen reported an alleged shooting incident to the Mambaling Police Station.

Upon receiving the call, police personnel immediately rushed to the scene to respond.

Responding officers found a male victim unconscious while lying on the ground with bullet wounds on different parts of his body.

READ MORE: 16 shooting incidents recorded in Cebu City but police say situation under control

Personnel of the Cebu City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (CCDRRMO) assisted the victim on the scene and found no pulse or any signs of life, stated the report.

The victim was identified as 34-year-old Librado Teopan Talledo, who works as an e-bike driver and a resident of Sitio Tinabangay, Barangay Alaska, Mambaling, Cebu City.

Police Major Jonathan Bethooven Nifiel Taneo, chief of Mambaling Police Station, told CDN Digital in a phone interview that the victim was walking to go to an acquaintance’s house when he was shot and killed.

According to Taneo, an assailant was waiting by the alley for Talledo to pass by after finding out that he was headed to the area at the time of the incident.

When the victim arrived at the alley, an individual suddenly pointed a gun at the victim and shot him multiple times.

Being hunted?

The victim sustained gunshot wounds on his head and different parts of his body, added Taneo.

He also stated that the victim’s gunshot wound on his head was the fatal injury which lead to his instantaneous death. After seeing the victim collapse on the ground, the alleged suspect immediately ran away from the scene.

The police report showed that Scene of the Crime Operatives (SOCO) processed the crime scene and recovered two empty cartridge shell of a .45 caliber pistol.

Taneo disclosed that according to their follow-up investigation, it was found that were several individuals who have been looking for the victim in the last few weeks with one of them even going to his house.

“This past few weeks, naay mga personalities nga nagpangita sa iyaha. Actually, naa pa gani usa ka personality nga niadto jud mismo sa ila balay nya gipangita siya. Nya mao nay among mga persons-of-interest then amo coductan og follow-up operation,” he stated.

READ MORE: Brussels shooting: Two Swedish nationals killed

According to Taneo, these individuals were allegedly looking for Talledo because of drug-related transactions.

He added that they will be validating this information and the victim’s alleged involvement with illegal drugs, which could be the possible motive behind the crime.

Taneo stated that they will be conducting a follow-up investigation on these individuals who are now persons on interest on the death of Talledo.

The chief, however, opted not to divulge the identity of these persons to not disrupt the ongoing investigation.

“Gapadayon gihapon ta sa atoang follow-up operation, hot pursuit sa suspetsado. And gapadayon sad atong follow-up investigation sa pagpangalap sa mga ebidensya ug mga personahe nga involved sa maong panghitabo,” said Taneo.

/bmjo