MARIVELES, Bataan– A still unidentified suspect gunned down a couple and wounded their 8-year old grandson inside their house here during the height of the New Year’s Eve revelry.
Supt. Joel Tampis, Mariveles police chief, identified the victims as salesman Roberto Guinto, 61, and his wife Elve Guinto, 31, who died on the spot at their residence in Paliparan , an upland sitio in barangay Batangas Dos.
Wounded was Kean Malik, 8, grandson of the couple. The boy was rushed to the Bataan General Hospital in Balanga City for gunshot wound on his shoulder and a fracture on the hand. The mother, Jhoana Rose Guinto, said her son was already in stable condition.
“Nang makarinig ako ng putok, nag-panic ako at agad kong tiningnan ang mga bata,” she said. The mother said they were from Sampalok, Quezon Province and just visited her father in time for the New Year.
With the couple during the time of the shooting were their 5-year old daughter and Jhoana and her son.
Lawmen recovered from the scene of the shooting seven empty shells and a live ammunition for caliber .45.
Armando Domingo, a relative of the victims, said a few seconds after he left the house of the couple he heard some gunshots. “Nakaupo ang matandang lalaki sa mahabang upuan nang tamaan ng bala sa kamay.
Pagtayo niya, binanatan naman sa dibdib na tumagos ang bala sa likod,” he said.
“Ang kanyang asawa naman ay naghihiwa ng lulutuin sa katabing mesa nang tamaan ng bala samantalang ang bata namang nasugatan ay naglalaro,” Domingo said.
He said the shooting was timed with the explosion of firecrackers. “Itinaon ang pamamaril sa putukan ng mga paputok sa paghihiwalay ng taon,” Domingo said. Police placed the time of the shooting at 12:10 in the morning of Tuesday.
Some residents said they did not hear gunshots but the sounds of firecrackers. Helen Cantiller, a neighbor, said they saw the couple sprawled in blood and already lifeless.
