Gunmen shoot, rob treasure hunter
By AARON B. RECUENCO • MIKE U. CRISMUNDO
MANILA, PHILIPPINES – Gunmen stormed the house of a treasure hunter in Surigao del Norte and shot and robbed him with cash after failing to find the gold they were looking for, police reported yesterday.
Supt. Martin Gamba, chief information officer of the CARAGA regional police, said initial result of the investigation points to the possible involvement of local communist rebels in the incident that occurred on Friday night in Barangay Ombong in Alegria town.
He identified the victim as Danny Evarita, a known treasure hunter in the area.
“The incident was perpetrated by the 10 armed men believed to be communist rebels, they demanded the gold which they believed was found by him in his treasure-hunting activities,” said Gamba.
“Allegedly, they demanded the said gold to buy medicines for their wounded comrades,” he added.
But Evarita reportedly insisted that the rebels had wrong information about the gold, allegedly prompting the group leaders to shoot him at short range.
Local investigators said the New People’s Army (NPA) also ransacked the house of Evarita, taking with them some P6,600 cash.
“The other members of Evarita family were reportedly unharmed,” said Gamba.
Gamba said the victim was rushed to Caraga Regional Hospital in Surigao City for treatment.
The perpetrators fled to the mountainous area of Barangay Camp Edward in the same town after the incident, according to the police.
The local rebels have not issued any statement about the police allegation.
Courtesy TEMPO