Cops hunt jeepney driver’s shooter

By LITO RULONA,
Correspondent

Operatives of the Cagayan de Oro City Police Office (Cocpo) is now hunting down the gunman who shot a Public Utility Jeepney (PUJ) driver in Upper Balulang, yesterday early morning in an apparent road rage.

Cocpo Carmen Police Station investigator PO3 Lito Baculio identified the victim as Ramil Pagara, 40, and a resident of Sitio Sentro, Barangay Lumbia, this city.

The victim was rushed to JR General Hospital in Barangay Carmen and was later transferred to Northern Mindanao Medical Center. Pagara is still in critical condition after he suffered 14 gunshot wounds all over his body.

Baculio said Pagara had five fatal wounds to his chest, abdomen, upper and lower legs and to his back. The other remaining wounds Pagara sustained came from ricocheted bullets.

“Matud sa iyang doctor nga si Dr. Jackielyn Untian nga ang uban niya nga samad nakuha sa mga mibanda-banda nga bala sulod sa driver seat,” Baculio said.

The suspect was driving a Mitsubishi Montero Sports, colored black with plate number that was identified only as 6165.

Police considered the suspect as armed and dangerous because of the incident.

“We are still trying to identify the suspect through the CCTV footages that would be provided by the Grand Europa subdivision management,” Baculio said.

Initial investigation disclosed that a heated argument started over a traffic misunderstanding between both parties which originated somewhere inside Grand Europa, a high-end subdivision in Barangay Lumbia.

The alleged suspect reportedly got irked when the victim overtook him inside the subdivision. There was an altercation while both drivers were driving toward the crime scene.

Police were able to get three witnesses of the incident including the terminal barker at the Xavier Heights Gate II.

“Kung ma-locate nato ang complete plate number of the vehicle driven during the crime we would traced it back to subdivision’s residents. Duna kita’y pagdu-da gyud nga taga-diha ra sa Grand Europa ang suspect,” Baculio claimed.

He said police operatives are now coordinating with the Land Transportation Office (LTO) regional office 10 and car distributor Mitshubishi to identify the ownership of the shooter’s vehicle.