Violence in Tayug erupts anew
TAYUG–This town, considered as the melting pot and center of trade and commerce in eastern Pangasinan, is well on its way to being called the crime capital of the province.
Violence erupted anew last week with a shooting involving an army staff sergeant and a group of armed men who are reportedly bodyguards of Lawak Barangay Chairman Vicente Abobo, a defeated candidate for town mayor in the May 10 election.
This latest incident, coming after several weeks of peace and quiet, happened on August 29 at 8:04 p.m. when Staff Sergeant Severino Ignacio, 52, was fired upon by armed men in front of his house in Barangay Sto. Domingo.
Ignacio, who was hit, fired back and the shooting left one of the men dead and six others wounded.
The suspects were reportedly on board three motorcycles when they attacked Ignacio.
The fatality among the attackers was identified as Adriano Lamqui, 52, who sustained one gunshot wound in the nape and other parts of his body. He was declared dead on arrival at the Eastern Pangasinan District Hospital (EPDH) in Tayug.
Wounded were Adriano’s younger brother, Jimmy, 45; and Roger Ramos, 35.
Ramos was already out of danger, but the younger Lamqui was reportedly transferred to the Baguio General Hospital.
Six empty shells of Caliber 45 pistol bullets and 19 empty shells of M-16 Armalite rifle bullets and one Caliber 45 pistol marked Colt were found by responding policemen at the crime scene.
Chief Inspector Fidel Junio, newly-installed chief of police of Tayug, said the M-16 armalite rifle was not recovered.
The police have yet to determine the owner or owners of the .45 caliber pistol and the armalite rifle.
Townsfolk believe that the incident could be a continuation of the series of shooting sprees in Tayug that started after the election, leaving nine people dead and one injured.
Leaders of different ecumenical churches have been conducting a so-called “prayer warfare” among their flock in hopes to stop the crimes that has been terrorizing the town.
Over the last three months, two police officers consecutively serving as Tayug’s police chief have been relieved for failure to stop the violent incidents.
Jimmy Lamqui, Ramos, one Vic de la Cruz, who is at large, and two others identified only as John Does, are now facing a case of frustrated homicide before the provincial prosecutors’ office in Tayug.
Ignacio is now under guarded confinement confined at the Eastern Pangasinan Hospital. —LM
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