A man believed to be a former military informant was shot dead by two unidentified suspects near a crowded basketball court in Barangay Rosariohan, Batuan during the village’s fiesta celebration on Tuesday.

Edwin Bugahod, 42, an employee of the local government of Batuan and a resident of the said barangay, was shot in the back while he was walking towards the village’s basketball court where a disco was held, said Insp. Wenceslao Merle, chief of the Batuan Police Station.

The gunmen approached Bugahod as he fell and shot him again twice apparently to make sure he was dead, added Merle.

Based on police investigation, the victim sustained two gunshot wounds in the back of his head and another in his right shoulder leading to his instantaneous death.

The suspects fled the area on board a motorcycle and headed to the direction of adjacent town Catigbian, police said.

According to Wenceslao, witnesses also saw another motorcycle-riding man near the crime scene who appeared to have served as lookout and left the area after the gun attack heading towards Barangay Cantigdas, Batuan.

Police faced a blank wall as to the identities of the suspects but a deeper probe was already underway particularly to determine if the victim was indeed a former military asset.

Merle said that they have received reports indicating that Bugahod had served as an informer to the Philippine Army but these have yet to be verified.

“Di pa namo madetermine kay among gi-follow-up pa. Ang istorya nga asset na, asset na sa Army,” he said. (R. Tutas)