Woman onboard motorcycle shot dead in Pangasinan, husband unhurt

A woman was killed in Calasiao, Pangasinan after she was shot by still unidentified assailants while onboard a motorcycle with her husband.

According to Joanne Ponsoy’s report on GMA Regional TV’s “One North Central Luzon,” victim Ernalin Sotelo and her husband were passing along the diversion road in Barangay Bued when the attack happened.

Sotelo died after sustaining eight gunshot wounds on her body. Meanwhile, four empty cartridges of caliber .45 firearm were recovered from the scene.

“‘Yung scatter ng blood,  malawak eh. Tsaka ‘yung ano ng cartridges natin..layo-layo. Ibig sabihin, pinaghahabol muna,” Calasiao Police chief Lieutenant Colonel Junmar Gonzales said.

(The blood was scattered and the cartridges were found meters apart. It means the suspects chased them.)

As it was dark, the victim’s husband was unable to identify the gunmen, according to the report.

GMA Regional TV One North Central Luzon sought the husband's comment but he declined an interview.

Based on his statement to the police, Gonzales said the incident was possibly a case of mistaken identity.

“Sabi nung bumaril, in Pangasinan dialect, aliwa mo. Parang na-mis-identity sila. Ngayon ‘yung suspect nung sinabi niyang ganon, nakadapa na ‘yung victim, sinabing aliwa mo, tinuluyan pa rin. Binigyan pa rin ng isa sa ulo,” said the local police chief.

(The gunman said, in Pangasinan dialect, aliwa mo. They’re saying that they could have misidentified the victim who was already lying face down. Still, they shot her on the head.)

Gonzales said the police are conducting an in-depth investigation into the shooting incident to identify the suspects and their motives.

“Meron kaming mga persons of interest and I believe na maso-solve natin itong kasong ito,” he added.

(We have persons of interest and I believe we can resolve this case.)—Sundy Locus/LDF, GMA News