BASILAN – An employee of Bounty Fresh was pronounced dead on arrival at Lamitan City Hospital after being shot by riding-in-tandem suspects in Sitio Kahibaan, Barangay Sta Clara, Lamitan City, Basilan, on Saturday night, June 17.
The victim was identified as Mark Pagente, 27 years old, a resident of Sitio Karingalan, Barangay Sta Clara, according to PLtcol. Arlan Delumpines, Chief of Lamitan City Police Office. The suspect was identified as Ulysses Villanueva Delis Reyes, also known as “Leklek,” a resident of Barangay Panunsalan, Isabela City.
According to the report from Lamitan PNP, Mark was drinking with his friends at a store in the mentioned barangay when suddenly a motorcycle with two male riders, one of them identified as Ulysses Villanueva, stopped. Villanueva was seen firing shots at the victim, Mark Pagente.
Villanueva shot the victim multiple times, causing severe injuries to different parts of his body. The suspect quickly fled the scene, while Mark was immediately rushed to the nearest hospital. However, he was declared dead on arrival by the attending doctor.
Five empty bullet casings of a 5.56 mm caliber were recovered from the crime scene.
Lamitan City Police Office continues to investigate the incident and has launched a manhunt operation to apprehend Villanueva and determine the motive behind the shooting. The motive for the attack is yet to be determined as authorities work to bring justice to the slain victim, Mark Pagente.
