TACLOBAN CITY -- Five local government unit employees in Palompon, Leyte miraculously survived a shooting that transpired on Wednesday afternoon, Sept. 14, in a housing project of the National Housing Authority.
The victims were identified as Aniano Noynay Jr., 47; Christopher Rojas, 44; Jessie Book, 38; Edgardo Ponso, 52; and Ranulfo Andales, 60, all residents of said municipality.
Initial investigation disclosed that the victims were on duty as watchmen at their outpost at the entrance of the housing project in Brgy. Cangmoya.
The suspects identified as Rogelio Sumudlayon, and his siblings Richard and Ericson, appeared at a distance and suddenly riddled their outpost with bullets.
The victims were able to drop and hide. No one was hit by bullet/s during the incident.
The suspects immediately fled towards Brgy. Magsaysay, Palompon, Leyte.
Meanwhile, the responding police officers saw three bullet holes in the corrugated wall cover of their dirty kitchen adjacent to the temporary guard house, two bullet holes in the rice cooking pot, and a bullet hole in the guard house ceiling.
They also recovered 22 empty shells of caliber. 45 pistol.
A hot pursuit operation has been launched by the local police for the arrest of the suspects.
An investigation is also being conducted to determine the suspects’ motive in their shooting spree.