Businessman shot dead

By Maricar M. Calubiran

A former priest who ventured in money lending business was shot dead by at least five unidentified armed men Sunday inside an eatery at San Miguel, Jordan Guimaras. Police has yet to identify the suspects.

The victim was identified as Frank Ariola, barangay captain of Sto. Tomas, Passi City. He succumbed fatal gunshot wounds on his head. Ariola died before he reached Guimaras provincial hospital.

Ariola was inside the Reyson's Eatery when two armed men believed to be armed with a caliber .38 caliber revolver and an Ingram pistol barged in the eatery and declared hold-up. The eatery is used as remittance area. People lending money and paying their debts to Ariola met at the eatery every Sunday.

One of the suspects turned to Ariola and shot him at close range while the other suspect posted near the door. They took away a lunchbox from the victim believing it contained huge amount of money. No cash was taken from the eatery's cash box. The suspects clad in shorts and jackets hurriedly fled the place. Three other suspects who served as driver and look outs waited for the two suspects to come out in the eatery. They boarded a motorcycle and fled.

After the suspects left the place, Ariola's son-in-law Ronald Salapio brought him to the hospital. Ariola's driver Edmund Montibon and police escort identified only as certain Infante were not around during the incident. Montibon and Infante deposited the collections in the nearby rural bank. Last March, the victim's wife Florette was also held-up. Robber's carted away some P300,000. The victim received death threats after last March's robbery involving his wife.

Recently, Korean nationals were also robbed in the province. Police has yet to solve the case.