Tricycle driver shot dead in Bulacan; getaway car had false license plate

A tricycle driver died in Hagonoy, Bulacan after he was shot by a still unidentified assailant on board a sports utility vehicle (SUV).

Based on the initial investigation, victim Renato de Leon was fatally shot in Barangay Iba-ibayo while looking for passengers on Sunday afternoon, according to Marisol Abdurahman’s report on “24 Oras” on Tuesday.  He succumbed to eight gunshot wounds.

“Matapos masalubong ng sasakyan ng suspect itong tricycle ng victim, binalikan. Nakita sa CCTV bumalik and then, in-overtake, hinarang. 'Yung suspect bumaba doon sa passenger seat saka inikutan yung tricycle saka binaril sa likod. Hindi harap, sa likod,” Police Lieutenant Colonel Ruben Furigay, Hagonoy Police chief, said.

(After seeing the victim’s tricycle, the suspect went back. He was seen on CCTV reverting and then overtaking the tricycle. The gunman got out of his vehicle and shot the victim in the back.)

A witness to the incident relayed a similar story.

“May bumabang tao sa sasasakyan. 'Yung nakita ko lang 'yung braso niya saka 'yung baril, pumunta sa likod namin. Hindi namin akalain na si Ka Rene 'yung titirahin niya,” said the witness.

(We saw someone coming out of the vehicle. I only saw his gun and arm but we didn’t expect that they would attack Ka Rene.)

“Nagulat na lang kami bumagsak na lang po si Ka Rene na duguan,” he added.

(We were shocked after we saw him fall. He was bleeding.)

The police said it is possible the suspect meant to kill the victim as CCTV footage captured how the alleged gunman’s vehicle came back after seeing de Leon’s tricycle.

They were also able to identify the license plate of the suspect’s vehicle but it was found to have been registered to another car.

“It's either mistaken identity o kilalang kilala nila ang victim. Dalawa lang 'yun. Kung di mo kilala 'yan bakit babalikan mo?  We will dig deeper,” said Furigay.

(It's either mistaken identity or they know the victim. That’s either of the two. If they did not know him why would they go back? We will dig deeper.)

Authorities already have a person of interest in the case but declined to issue further details.—Sundy Locus/LDF, GMA Integrated News