PUJ driver survives slay try

By Jennifer P. Rendon

A public utility jeepney (PUJ) driver skirted death after he was repeatedly shot by riding-in-tandem gunmen morning of May 2, 2023 in Estancia, Iloilo.

Jelly Cuacoyco, 53, of Barangay Abong, Carles, Iloilo suffered multiple gunshot injuries but is now in stable condition, the local police said.

According to reports, the gun attack happened near a transport terminal at Barangay Bayuyan around 10:40 a.m. Tuesday.

The victim was sitting in a waiting shed when a male person wearing a black t-shirt, denim pants, a black mask, and carrying a black backpack approached him.

Without any apparent reason or cause, the man repeatedly shot Cuacoyco. The victim was hit on his left shoulder, left lower chest, lower stomach, and left leg.

The gunman immediately boarded a black Kawasaki Bajaj motorcycle and fled.

The victim was rushed to Jesus Colmenares District Hospital in Balasan town for treatment and was later referred to a hospital in Roxas City, Capiz.

Captain Arniel Buraga, Estancia police chief, said they don’t have a person of interest behind the botched murder of Cuacoyco.

But one of the angles being considered is land dispute.

The victim allegedly recently brought a piece of land that was being claimed by another person.

“It’s just one of the angles. We’re also looking at other motives like personal grudges,” Buraga said.

From the looks of it, police investigators believed that the suspects are not professional hired killers.

“The gunman shot the victim at a close distance but failed to hit him fatally,” Buraga said.

Police recovered five empty shells of caliber .45 pistol at the crime scene.

Meanwhile, Buraga said the victim has no previous police records and had not been involved in any misdemeanor.