Arcinue couple shot dead in Manila
LINGAYEN—A year after they survived an attempt on their lives, former Lingayen Vice Mayor Ramon Arcinue and his wife Zorahayda, incumbent barangay chairman of Poblacion, Lingayen were shot dead by a lone gunman in front of their rented apartment in Sampaloc, Manila on the night of March 7.
The Arcinue couple, who were in Manila to attend the graduation rites of their children, suffered gunshot wounds to their heads and died while undergoing treatment at the University of Sto. Tomas Hospital where they were rushed after the crime.
Investigation showed that the Arcinues, together with their two children, had dinner out and had just arrived at their rented house where the gunman was standing in wait.
The killer, who used a hand gun, first shot Ramon, 55, on the head while he was alighting from their car, a Honda Civic, then shot Mrs. Arcinue, also 55, also in the head. The children had already entered the apartment.
The gunman then walked casually towards España Boulevard where he boarded a bus bound for Cubao, Quezon City.
Station Commander P/Supt. Rolando Balasabas said elements of the police force and Outpost No. 13 led by PO3 Archimedes Calimag immediately conducted operations to apprehend the suspect but yielded negative results.
A YEAR AGO
The tragedy happened one year after the couple were shot and wounded by unidentified armed men riding in tandem on a motorcycle in Barangay Biec, Binmaley while on board their car going home to Lingayen from Dagupan.
RAMON AND ZORAHAYDA ARCINUE
The couple were wounded and laid helpless inside their car until the driver of a soft drink delivery truck who saw them stopped and rushed them to the Villaflor Doctors Hospital in Dagupan City.
Investigators are looking into the possibility that the same gunman who shot them in March 2011 stalked them in Manila to finish the job.
The Homicide Division of the Manila Police Department is now investigating the case in coordination with provincial police authorities and the National Bureau of Investigation.
Their bodies have been brought home to Lingayen and the wake was opened to the public on March 9.
ASSAULT ON CIVIL SOCIETY
Meanwhile, the provincial government has condemned the killing.
Gov. Amado Espino Jr. described it as a “direct and despicable assault on civil society”.
He called on the police to exert all efforts to get the perpetrators.
Provincial Administrator Rafael Baraan added, “No matter what kind of problem they (mastermind and the couple) may have between each other, it should have been settled in a more humane and civil manner.”
“It is not far-fetched that the killer is from Pangasinan or if the killer is from Manila, the mastermind is from Pangasinan,” said Baraan, although he declined to speculate on the possible motive of the crime. (with report from PIA-Pangasinan)
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