TALISAYAN, Misamis Oriental — Two people were killed and one was injured in a shooting inside a passenger van early Monday morning along a highway in Mandahilag, Talisayan.
The victims were found in a Toyota Hi Ace van, according to police.
The fatalities were identified as Greg Labadan Jr., 39, of Gingoog City, and Ernesto Betonio, 65, the driver of the van, from Magsaysay, Misamis Oriental.
Labadan, a resident of Manila, had reportedly returned home to visit his daughter, who was in a Gingoog City hospital.
Labadan sustained a gunshot wound to the chest, while Betonio was hit in the armpit. Both were pronounced dead upon arrival at the Talisayan Hospital.
A female passenger was also injured in the arm and is now in stable condition at Northern Mindanao Medical Center. Police Capt. Promelia Orejas, Talisayan police chief, did not release her name for security reasons.
Initial investigation shows the suspect was a passenger who boarded the van at the Agora Terminal in Cagayan de Oro.
The suspect first shot the driver, Betonio, then Labadan, who was sitting directly behind the driver. The female passenger was then shot in the arm. Another passenger, who was asleep at the time, was unharmed.
Orejas said the motive is still under investigation but believes it was not a robbery, as the suspect did not take the victims’ cellphones or other personal belongings.
Labadan was found with P20,000 cash in his underwear, believed to be for his daughter’s hospital bills.
The hospital confirmed Labadan’s 13-year-old daughter was admitted but was discharged on Sunday afternoon.
The suspect fled the scene on foot after the shooting. Police are continuing their investigation.
