Habal-habal driver slain after gambling dispute

By Jennifer P. Rendon

A habal-habal driver was shot dead hours after a quarrel at a wake in Lambunao, Iloilo.

The incident happened as alias Romeo, 44, a resident of Barangay Panuran, Lambunao, was with his daughter and cousin on their way to the town proper.

As they were navigating Barangay Pughanan around 6:30 a.m. on Oct. 13, a certain Panoy waylaid them.

Romeo’s daughter, alias Nene, said the first shot hit the victim’s shoulder. Romeo immediately alighted from the vehicle and ran.

But Panoy, a carpenter from Pughanan village, chased and shot him twice. Nene and her uncle managed to run for safety.

The victim was taken to the hospital but did not survive. The suspect immediately fled and remains at large as of this writing.

Captain Jose Winston Biadog, Lambunao police chief, said the area where the incident happened is around eight kilometers from the town proper.

He added it is devoid of mobile phone signal and has no residents living in close proximity.

Biadog said they immediately conducted a hot pursuit operation but failed to arrest the suspect.

Investigation showed that Panoy and Romeo had an altercation the night before the incident.

“They were playing cards at a wake in Panuran, however, the suspect failed to pay his bet,” Biadog said.

He allegedly got an earful from the victim, which could have triggered him to harbor a grudge.

Biadog said they are already working for the suspect’s surrender.