MATANAO, Davao del Sur — A live-in couple was brutally gunned down inside their home while having dinner on the evening of April 2, in a chilling attack that has left their community in shock and fear.
Authorities identified the victims as Chery Palma, 35, who was declared dead on the spot, and her partner, Roylan Palma Rios, 33, who was rushed to the Davao del Sur Provincial Hospital in Digos City but later succumbed to his injuries.
The fatal shooting occurred around 9:00 p.m. in Purok 4, Relocation Site, Barangay Upper Bagumbayan.
Initial police investigation revealed that the couple sustained multiple gunshot wounds in different parts of their bodies, leading to their deaths. Palma reportedly suffered a fatal gunshot wound to the head, while Rios was critically hit in the chest.
Investigators said the victims were peacefully having dinner inside their residence when an unidentified suspect suddenly barged in and opened fire without warning. The assailant fled immediately after the attack, leaving the victims sprawled inside their home.
Crime scene operatives recovered four spent shell casings from a .45 caliber firearm, which are now being processed for forensic examination.
Witnesses in the area claimed to have noticed suspicious activity hours before the shooting, suggesting the possibility that the suspect may have been monitoring the victims prior to carrying out the attack.
Further information disclosed that Palma and Rios were not only partners but also cousins, adding a disturbing layer to the tragedy that has stunned residents.
Community members, including barangay officials and civilian volunteers, immediately responded to the incident and assisted in bringing the male victim to the hospital. Their swift action, however, was not enough to save his life.
Residents described the couple as kind and harmless, making the violent nature of their deaths even more difficult to comprehend.
Police authorities have launched an intensified manhunt and are pursuing all possible angles, including personal grudges and other motives behind the killing.
As of this writing, the identity of the suspect and the motive remain unknown.
The brutal double killing underscores growing concerns over security in residential areas, as authorities urge anyone with information to come forward to aid in the swift resolution of the case.