Delivery rider shot dead in Roxas City

By Felipe V. Celino

ROXAS CITY, Capiz — A delivery rider was shot dead by two motorcycle-riding assailants Tuesday afternoon, July 28, at Sitio Ilaya in Barangay Sibaguan, Roxas City.

Chester Azurquin Alagon, 22, of Barangay Dinginan, Roxas City, died at the scene after unidentified assailants shot him with an unknown caliber of firearm.

An initial investigation by the Roxas City police showed that Alagon had gone to Barangay Sibaguan to deliver a parcel.

As he was leaving the area, two assailants riding a green Yamaha Mio motorcycle shot him.

A resident said she heard a gunshot and saw two people on a motorcycle fleeing in an unknown direction.

The passenger was wearing a bonnet.

Residents later found a helmet believed to belong to one of the assailants after their getaway motorcycle fell on the road.

The assailants immediately got up and fled.

Police are investigating the incident, while a hot-pursuit operation is underway.

Lt. Col. Rogelio Tomagtang Jr., chief of the Roxas City police, said during a news conference Wednesday morning, July 29, that investigators were looking into the possibility of mistaken identity.

Tomagtang said Alagon was only serving as a reliever in the area after the delivery rider previously assigned there was transferred to another location.

He said robbery was also being considered as a possible motive.

However, the assailants did not take Alagon’s collections or personal money.

Alagon sustained a gunshot wound to the lower-left portion of his back, with the bullet exiting near his collarbone.

Police recovered no bullet slug or spent cartridge casing from the crime scene.

Investigators were awaiting the results of a ballistic examination to determine the type of firearm used in the attack.

Sibaguan Punong Barangay Johnny Arciga said in a media interview that the shooting occurred in a remote area without closed-circuit television cameras.

Arciga said another delivery rider had previously been held up in the same area.

Meanwhile, SPX riders from the Capiz Roxas Hub, where Alagon worked, condemned his killing.

“Araw-araw niyang hinaharap ang init at ulan, at kahit mabigat o overload na ang mga dalahin, hindi siya nagrereklamo dahil ang hangad niya ay makatulong sa kanyang pamilya,” the group said as it described Alagon as a happy and good person.

“Si Chester ay kilala bilang isang masayahin, mabait, at mapagkumbabang tao. Kaibigan siya ng maraming kapwa rider at naging malapit din sa mga officer dahil sa kanyang magandang pakikitungo sa lahat,” the statement said.

The group called for justice for Alagon and expressed sadness over the death of its colleague.