A 22-year-old stevedore has died after being shot by two men extorting money and threatening workers inside Market 1 when refused to give fish at the Navotas Fish Port Complex (NFPC) in Navotas City.
According to Navotas Police Chief Police Col. Rolando Balasabas, victim Roel Batiancila of BGA Compound, NFPC, Barangay North Bay Boulevard North (NBBN), died on the spot due to a bullet wound to the head.
Police have identified the suspects as Justine Morales, 20, a pedicab driver and Jayson Caspi, 19, both of Market 3, Barangay NBBN.
They were immediately apprehended in a follow-up operation conducted by personnel of Northern Maritime Police Station headed by Police Maj. Rommel Sobrido.
Initial investigation disclosed that the shooting occurred on November 9, around 1:30 a.m., while victim was hauling several “banyeras” or tubs full of various fishes inside the St. Joseph Consignacion, Market 1, when suspects approached and asked him for fish.
But when Batiancila allegedly refused, one of the suspects pulled out a gun and shot him in the head.
During the man-hunt, police spotted the suspects while having conversation inside the Market 3 and eventually one of them even attempted to shoot at the police.
Two .38 caliber revolvers loaded with three bullets and three rounds of ammunition were seized from the two assailants who are now facing multiple criminal offenses for killing Batiancila and possession of unlicensed firearms.