A 51-year-old garbage collector who was also into money-lending venture was shot dead in Barangay Pangdan, City of Naga, Cebu.

The incident happened early morning on Tuesday, September 2, 2025.

City of Naga Police, led by Lt. Col. Verniño Noserale, have pursued two angles to the possible motives in perpetrating the crime which are both related to money.

The victim identified as a certain “Michael,” widower, was seen sprawled by the roadside on the national highway of Barangay Pangdan, a gunshot wound to his head.

The victim rented reportedly a space in the area and was used to walking at about 4 a.m. from his place to the Material Recovery Facility where he worked as a garbage collector.

Residents said they heard three successive gunshots past 4 a.m., but for fear of their life they did not go out of their house to check the scene immediately. They were able to report the incident to the police at about 5 a.m.

In an initial investigation, a gold necklace owned by the victim, two new cellular phones, and two bags that contained money went missing.

His neighbors and colleagues at work said that the victim was into money lending in the last three years. Following this, police have looked into robbery and money lending as possible motives in the perpetration of the crime.

According to the police investigator, Police MSgt. Aristeo Tampus, the victim would bring at least P30,000 cash for his money-lending venture. 

Police have coordinated with residents and owners of establishments that have mounted closed-circuit television (CCTV) cameras for any footage that would help identify the perpetrator.

Noserale said it is possible the victim knows the perpetrator, and that there were cohort.