By Felipe V. Celino
ROXAS CITY, Capiz – A member of the LGBTQ community was shot dead on the afternoon of October 13 by suspects on a motorcycle in Barangay Gabuan, Roxas City.
Police identified the victim as Sharina Barrera, 30, from Barangay Dumolog, Roxas City.
According to Barangay Gabuan’s village chief, Alfredo Villanueva, Barrera was riding in a tricycle when suspects on a motorcycle suddenly shot him.
The victim was hit in the chest and rushed to the hospital by rescue volunteers but was declared dead on arrival by the attending physician.
The tricycle driver was unharmed, as the helmet-wearing suspects fled in an unknown direction.
Barrera was reportedly the live-in partner of Michael Dela Cruz, an alleged scammer who was recently arrested for illegal firearm violations.
Police investigations revealed that the victim was picked up by the tricycle driver along with an unidentified woman and child on San Roque Extension Street, heading toward Barangay Dumolog.
When they reached Mt. Zion Cemetery in Barangay Mongpong, the woman and child got off the tricycle, and the victim asked the driver to take him to Gabuan.
The suspects, who had been following the tricycle, shot the victim in the front seat.
John Paul Sy, the victim’s brother, said they had urged Barrera to return home to Barangay Lawaan but he refused, choosing to stay with his live-in partner, who had been involved in illegal gun sales and several robberies in Roxas City.
Sy added that they are unsure of the motive behind his brother’s killing.
Police are continuing their investigation into the incident.
