A businessman, his son, and their driver were shot dead in their family compound by nine gunmen wearing police uniforms in the mining town of Aroroy, Masbate early dawn on Easter Sunday.
Senior Police Officer 1 Zandro Cabintoy of Masbate police said the gunmen posed as policemen and were armed with caliber .45 pistols and M16 rifles.
“The armed men — who wore the police’s upper athletic uniform, general office attire of blue pants and wet look shoes — introduced themselves as members of the Criminal Investigation and
Detection Group.” Cabinto said in a report.
Cabinto identified the victims as businessman Jesus Amaro, 64; his son Gilbert, 36; and their driver Ricky Almodiel
According to Cabintoy, upon arrival at the compound, the assailants tied the hands of security guard Alwin Licip, 23, and helper Steve Ramones, 43, before proceeding to the older Amaro’s house.
When Gilbert, Amaro’s son, refused to tell the gunmen where his father was, one of the gunmen shot him in the chest and in the left side of his head, leaving him dead on the spot.
Another gunman confronted Amaro’s driver Almodiel and told him to knock at the door of Amaro’s room. When the older Almaro opened the door, the gunmen seized the two, led them to the living room then shot them.
The gunmen pillaged Amaro’s room and walked away with a container filled with silver, a shoulder bag with gold, assorted jewelry, and a .45-caliber pistol.
They fled the scene aboard the victims’ white Nissan Safari Patrol.
Cabintoy said Special Investigation Task Group “Amaro” was created by Senior Supt. Jesus C. Martirez of Masbate Police to expedite resolution of the case.
