Ex-cop’s son killed in riding-in-tandem attack

By: Jennifer P. Rendon 

A GUN attack perpetrated by riding-in-tandem gunmen claimed the life of a retired policeman’s son in San Jose, Antique.

Police Lieutenant Colonel Mark Anthony Darroca, San Jose police chief, said 29-year-old Bonnie Sanchez was driving his motorcycle at Barangay Maybato North late afternoon of July 27, 2019 when two motorcycle-riding suspects peppered him with bullets.

Sanchez, a street food vendor and resident of Barangay Lapaz-Tubog, Hamtic, was on his way to Barangay Malandog, Hamtic when the attack happened around 5:08 p.m.

The two suspects apparently tailed Sanchez until they reached an unpopulated area of Maybato.

While it was a national highway, only residents and two-wheeled vehicles passed by the area because it was temporary closed for repair.

“There was no eyewitness to the shooting incident,” Darroca said.

But a resident saw the victim pass by with another vehicle following him.

It was believed that after he fell from the motorcycle, Sanchez was able to run for about 30 meters until he reached the house of Tobias Orquial where he again fell.

Police officers near a mall in San Jose town responded and brought the victim to Angel Salazar Memorial General Hospital.

But he succumbed to multiple gunshot injuries on his chest, abdomen, leg, and back.

Scene of the crime operatives (SOCO) recovered empty shells and fragments of caliber .45 ammunition.

They also recovered the victim’s Mio motorcycle, Samsung mobile phone, and assorted street food.

Footages from close circuit television cameras (CCTV) at Barangay Maybato North, Robinson’s Mall, and Barangay 8 showed the suspects flee to San Jose town proper. Instead of passing by Barangay 8, they took another route at either Barangay Bariri or San Angel.

 

CLUELESS 

Darroca said they are still clueless on the motive and identity of the suspects.

He said that Sanchez is not on their watchlist of illegal drug personalities.

Just like his father, Sanchez reportedly used to work as a bodyguard for former Hamtic Mayor and now Vice Mayor Julius Ronald Pacificador.

He ran as Hamtic’s municipal councilor in the May 2018 elections but lost.

Sanchez then stayed most of the time in San Jose town and ventured into selling street food.

“His family was not also aware of any threat to his life,” Darroca said.

Investigators are still getting statements from residents and are looking for possible suspects who gunned down Sachez. (Photo Courtesy of Getty Images)