By Jennifer P. Rendon
A house caretaker cheated death after riding-in-tandem gunmen shot him afternoon of March 2 at Barangay Cuartero, Jaro, Iloilo City.
Gerome Faigane, 42, a resident of Barangay Fajardo, Jaro, suffered a gunshot wound on the right portion of his body with the bullet exiting his back.
Lieutenant Colonel Reuben Siason, Jaro police chief, said Faigane was doing some house chores when someone outside the gate called out “P’re, p’re,” which is a contraction of the word “Pare” or male buddy or friend.
When Faigane went out to check, he saw a motorcycle back rider approach him.
The man then pulled a gun from his waist, prompting the victim to run inside the house.
But before Faigane could even hide, the gunman shot and hit the victim.
The assailant no longer chased the victim and decided to hop on the motorcycle then fled.
Faigane was not able to identify the shooter and the driver who both wore crash helmets.
Siason said they are looking at old grudges as the possible motive of the incident.
Police investigators learned that Faigane’s uncle was involved in a shooting incident but the case as amicably settled.
The victim was also involved in an argument with another man recently.
Barangay Captain Hernado Leonor of Fajardo village claimed that Faigane has no derogatory record in the area.
Last February 16, another worker also survived a gun attack at Barangay Tacas, Jaro.
Rodolfo Melicado, Jr. 36, a resident of Barangay Ubian, Maasin, Iloilo, was about to close the bamboo shop where he was working when the two suspects on board a red Kawasaki Bajaj motorcycle parked near him.
The back rider then pulled a gun, prompting Melicado to duck for cover. He then heard gun fire and later saw the motorcycle speed away towards Pavia town.
Melicado was unscathed despite being shot at from a 5-meter distance.
Just like Faigane’s, police also theorized old grudges as the possible motive in the attempt on Melicado’s life.
