5 dead, 2 hurt in Pangasinan shootings

LINGAYEN, Pangasinan – Five persons were killed and two others were wounded in separate shooting incidents involving motorcycle-riding gunmen in Pangasinan last week.

Unidentified assailants gunned down Larry Miranda, 41, a former barangay councilman, and Virgilio Ferrer, 58, both residents of Barangay Longos in Calasiao town, along a road in Barangay Pangalangan in San Carlos City Jan. 17.  

Miranda suffered multiple gunshot wounds in the body while Ferrer was hit in the back.

They were pronounced dead on arrival at the Pangasinan Provincial Hospital.

Police said the victims were on a motorcycle on their way home from a cockpit in Barangay Capataan when three unidentified suspects on two motorcycles chased them.

In Bugallon town, Mark Garcia, 42, a resident of Barangay Maambal in Pozorrubio town and caretaker at a poultry farm of former Binmaley mayor Lorenzo Cerezo, was shot dead in Barangay Salomague at 1:15 a.m. a day earlier.

The suspects also took the P70,000 cash that he was carrying.

Two farmers – Jesus Sison, 63, a resident of Barangay Balococ, Lingayen town, and Reynaldo Delfin, 43, of Barangay Amamperez, Villasis – were gunned down Jan. 16.

Sison was collecting firewood when an unidentified suspect shot him repeatedly with a Cal. 45 pistol.

Delfin was buying cigarettes at a convenience store when a suspect identified as Primitivo Barnachea, 63, who is also a farmer, shot him. Jonathan Barnachea, who was tending the store, was hit by a stray bullet and was hospitalized.

Meanwhile, Anthony Perez, 39, an employee of PhilHealth was wounded when unidentified gunmen shot him along Barangay Matalava in West Lingayen town at 10:40 p.m.  – Eva Visperas and Cesar Ramirez