CAMP OLIVAS, Pampanga — A visiting French-American couple was shot dead by motorcycle-riding gunmen in Barangay Banaba, Bamban, Tarlac Tuesday, police said Wednesday.
The victims were identified as Linda San Pedro Dion and Gregory Dion, temporarily staying in the said community.
Police said the victims were on board a Ford Ranger (Wildtrak) pick-up truck when flagged down by the suspects and were shot at point blank range, killing both occupants of the vehicle on the spot past 9 a.m.
The incident, according to a police report, was captured through security cameras installed along the main road. The suspects, including another man who served as a lookout, were identified by witnesses.
Follow-up police operations led to the arrest of two suspects identified as Jason San Pedro y Dimarucut, 29, of Sitio Pag-Asa, Brgy. Anupol, Bamban, Tarlac who has been identified as the look-out; and Manolo Cabiga y Abagat, 49, of Cuyapo, Nueva Ecija presently residing in Brgy. Mabini, Moncada, Tarlac and employed as duty night shift security supervisor at Unahco Feed Mill Inc. located in Brgy. Baliti, City of San Fernando, Pampanga.
Cabiga, a suspected gun-for-hire, was cornered in his rented apartment past 5 a.m. Wednesday by lawmen from Bamban, Tarlac and City of San Fernando.
Cabiga has a standing warrant of arrest issued by the Makati City Regional Trial Court for an attempted murder offense.
The suspects were taken to the Bamban police station for further investigation as a double murder case is being readied against them.
Meanwhile, police launched a manhunt against the third suspect who eluded arrest during police raid.-jess malabanan