A 23-year-old sewer-trainee was shot multiple times by a yet unidentified assailant in Sitio Kabaloy, Barangay Pajac, Lapu-Lapu City.

The man sustained 10 gunshot wounds.

His body was found at the back of a parked tricycle.

The owner of the tricycle, Charito Alegres, said she was surprised upon learning from fellow barangay workers that a dead body is found behind her tricycle.

Alegres said that she is a native resident of the area, but is not familiar with the victim. She surmised the man could have come from another place.

GMA Regional TV Balitang Bisdak combed the area for comments from witnesses, but none of the residents granted an on-camera interview.

However, off cam, they said they heard gunshots afternoon on February 16, 2026 but did not see the actual incident.

According to Police Captain Edcel Petecio, information officer of the Lapu-Lapu City Police Office, the victim is from Surigao.

He has just arrived in Lapu-Lapu City and is residing where a cousin lives in Barangay Basak where he is undergoing training as a sewer.

Police investigated the possibility of love-related motive or illegal drugs behind the slay.

Investigators based their observation on the messages logged in the victim’s cellphone. It was traced that he had a chat with someone hours prior to the crime, wherein the victim provided an update on his current location.

Police are also tracing residences and establishments in the area that have CCTVs for possible clues.

Seven empty shells and three deformed slugs were found in the crime scene.

As of this writing, the family of the victim has not issued a statement yet on the incident.