By Jennifer P. Rendon
A 29-year-old man survived what appeared to be an assassination attempt.
Glen Paloma, of Barangay Aganan Riverside, Pavia, Iloilo, was pushed out of a vehicle and repeatedly shot in a rice field at Barangay Calaboa, Leganes morning of March 26.
Captain John Robles, Leganes police chief, said Paloma suffered around five gunshot wounds, based on his available medical bulletin.
His hands were tied with a wire and his neck and feet were bound with packing tape.
Residents claimed to have heard gunfire and then saw a vehicle, probably a sedan, leaving the area around 6 a.m. on Sunday.
Despite the multiple gunshot injuries, Paloma was conscious and managed to ask for help.
Robles said it was not clear how the victim ended up in Leganes.
But he was able to tell police investigators that he boarded a private vehicle at Barangay Ungka (not certain if it’s Ungka, Jaro, Iloilo City or Ungka, Pavia) around 5 a.m.
Paloma did not say if he went voluntarily or was forced to board the vehicle.
He was rushed to Western Visayas Medical Center where he underwent surgery.
Robles said they’re still reviewing CCTV footages from Ungka and Leganes.
Police recovered a slug of an undetermined caliber of firearm in the area.
Robles said the Pavia Municipal Police Station has no record of criminal infractions committed by Paloma.
But while the victim claimed to be a resident of Pavia, village officials claimed he’s now staying with his live-in partner in Iloilo City.
Three days ago, a victim of purported summary execution was found in Tigbauan, Iloilo
Hog-tied with duct tape and with gunshot wounds on the head and shoulder, the body was found by the roadside at Barangay Linobayan, Tigbauan around 6 a.m. Thursday.
Through the identification cards found in the victim’s bag, he was identified as Allen Sanchez of Barangay Sto Niño Norte, Arevalo, Iloilo City.
But aside from the two identification cards, the bag also contained three sachets of suspected shabu, a sachet of dried marijuana leaves, drug paraphernalia, a digital weighing scale, and other personal belongings.
No suspect has been identified in Sanchez’s death.
