BOTCHED DEAL TURNED DEADLY?: Three young traders gunned down; P7.5-M cash missing

By Jennifer P. Rendon

Three young businessmen were gunned down by riding-in-tandem gunmen early morning of Sept 14, 2022 in Estancia, Iloilo.

Police identified the victims as Chrysler Floyd Fernandez, 27, of Barangay Jereos, La Paz, Iloilo City; John Paul “JP” Mark Bosque, 28, of Lopez Jaena Sur, Lapuz, Iloilo City; and Mark Clarence Libao, 24, of Barangay Quintin Salas, Jaro, Iloilo City.

All three victims were declared dead on arrival at Jesus Colmenares District Hospital in Balasan town.

One person survived the shooting, Jebron Parojinog, 24, a resident of Barangay Villa Pani-an, Estancia, the area where the incident happened.

According to police reports, Parojinog drove the white Isuzu Mu-X sport utility vehicle owned by Bosque.

Sitting beside Parojinog was Fernandez while the two other victims were in the back seat.

As they were navigating a portion of Villa Pani-an around 12:30 a.m. Wednesday, two persons on a motorcycle tailed the car and called out Bosque and Fernandez.

Parojinog told police investigators that the three victims knew the suspects. He added that he heard a gunshot causing him to lose focus on his driving. The vehicle swerved to the right and got stuck in a shallow ditch.

Parojinog narrated that he immediately alighted from the vehicle and ran for safety.

Fernandez also allegedly attempted to flee but he stumbled and fell. He was subsequently shot.

Based on Parojinog’s statement, the two gunmen opened the vehicle’s door and repeatedly shot his companions.

The suspects did try to chase him but backed off when they saw another person flashing a light at them. He later sought help from nearby residents.

MISSING P7.5 MILLION

Parojinog, a fish broker, and Bosque are considered business partners.

Parojinog said they sold their co-owned fishing boat for P7.5 million as Bosque wanted to settle his debt with another person.

But Parojinog claimed he had no idea how much Bosque owed to the unidentified person. He said they travelled that night as Bosque wanted to immediately pay his debt.

The money placed inside the bag was already missing when police responded to the crime scene. Only P1,650 cash was found inside the vehicle.

But Lieutenant Joebert Amado, Estancia police chief, said they recovered the mobile phones of the victims, including Parojinog’s.

A caliber .9mm pistol was also found in the vehicle’s dashboard compartment.

Members of the scene of the crime operatives (SOCO) recovered several caliber .45 ammunitions inside the vehicle.

But Amado noted that they did not find any bullet holes in the car.

NO SUSPECT YET

As of press time, Amado said they have no suspects yet in the incident.

Intelligence operatives from nearby police stations, the Iloilo Police Provincial Office, and the Iloilo Provincial Mobile Force Company are already helping in the investigation.

All victims and Parojinog have no police records, according to the Estancia PNP.

Meanwhile, Colonel Adrian Acollador, Iloilo police chief, ordered the Estancia police station chief to expedite the gathering of evidence and identify the suspects.

Brigadier General Leo M Francisco, Police Regional Office 6 director, also directed Acollador to conduct an in-depth investigation on the shooting incident.

“I already directed the Provincial Director of Iloilo Police Provincial Office to conduct a thorough investigation to identify, arrest and file appropriate charges against the perpetrators following the death of the three victims,” Francisco said.

Francisco assured that they will focus on the case “to unearth the root cause of this incident and to identify the suspects and held them liable.”