Woman in Batangas shot dead in suspected case of mistaken identity

A woman was shot at close range by a gunman who was wearing a jacket and a helmet in Barangay Pag-Olingin West, Lipa City, Batangas.

After the first shot, the victim reportedly managed to walk away but the suspect followed her and shot her again. The suspect would then walk away calmly and leave the scene on board an e-bike parked nearby.

In another CCTV footage, the gunman can be seen getting off a different motorcycle before shooting the victim. 

The suspect in the shooting is allegedly a barangay councilman. 

According to PCapt. Ricardo Cuevas, Chief Operations Officer of Lipa City Police Station, the police have spoken to the drivers of the motorcycle and the e-bike used by the suspect.

“Nakausap namin ‘yung driver ng motorsiklo na sinakyan niya noong papunta doon sa lugar ganoon din po ‘yung sinakyan niya na e-bike after ng pamamaril. So accordingly nga po [sa kanila], ito ay yung barangay official. Pag-Olingin West po nangyari [yung pamamaril] pero ‘yun pong ating suspek ay from Pag-Olingin East,” Cuevas said.

Police suspect that it may be a case of mistaken identity since the suspect did not know the victim personally, and the victim was not from the area.

“Considering na itong victim is hindi naman talaga taga-roon, actually, parang naligaw lang po siya doon sa area. Wala naman po talagang reason para gawin ng suspek ‘yung pamamaril sa biktima kasi hindi naman talaga personally kilala nu’ng suspect yung victim, at noon laang po nakapunta doon yung victim sa lugar, so possible na baka napagkamalan po ng suspek,” Cuevas added.

A .45 caliber gun was recovered from the crime scene.

As of this writing, investigation into the shooting is ongoing.

“Patuloy ang negotiation na ginagawa namin sa pamilya at hangga’t maaari ay isuko na lang yung kanilang kamag-anak. Sa ngayon naman, patuloy yung ating ginagawang follow-up operation kung saan natin pwedeng matagpuan ‘yung suspek,” Cuevas said. —GMA Regional TV