A former illegal gambling bet collector was murdered Tuesday evening inside his own home cum internet station at Brgy. Simon Ledesma, Jaro, Iloilo City.

Edgar Aptingo, 54, succumbed to multiple gunshot wounds on the different parts of his body.

Witnesses said that Aptingo was sitting with his back on the door when the two hitmen, both armed with hand guns, entered the victim’s abode.

Without any word, they peppered the victim with bullets and fled on foot.

Chief Inspector Gilbert Gorero, Jaro police chief, said that Aptingo’s house is situated in a row of illegal settlers. One has to pass by a narrow alley before reaching the house with its door, a step away from the foot walk.

A few meters from the house is the main road where the gunmen’s scooter was parked.

Gorero said that Aptingo’s child witnessed the incident but could not give a clear description of the assailants.

The victim was rushed to West Visayas State University Medical Center but did not pull through. Recovered from the crime scene were five empty shells of caliber .40 and an empty shell of caliber .45 pistol.

Prior to the incident, information said that the two gunmen were seen in the area.

It was assumed that they were doing surveillance operation on the victim’s activities.

‘TIPSTER’

Only last month, Aptingo was arrested after he was caught collecting bets for a “bookies” game.

He was incarcerated but was released after posting bail bond.

But several neighbors believed that Aptingo was killed not because of his being a bet collector but because he was suspected to have tipped the police on the illegal gambling activities in his village.

However, Gorero said that it they have not yet ruled any motive on the incident.

Last November 12, five residents of Brgy. Simon Ledesma were arrested for illegal gambling.

The ICPO’s Anti-Illegal Gambling Task Force, together with Iloilo City Police Station 3 and ICPO Special Operations Group (SOG), did an entrapment operation against Elpedio Jabat, 38; Rolly Pabillo, 42; George Bernardo, 21; Meriam Jabat, 42; and taxi driver Armando Jabat, 50, for their alleged “bookies” activities.

It was established “that they have been remitting bets and cotejos at Simon Ledesma St.,” Gorero said.

Elpedio, Pabillo, Bernardo, and Meriam then boarded a Melvin Taxi driven by Armando.

As police operatives were about to entrap the suspects, Armando sped off going to Brgy. Ma Cristina were they were stopped by a blocking police force.

They were then ordered to go out of the taxi but one of the suspects allegedly tried to pull a firearm.

This prompted policemen to break the taxi’s windshield and force open the cab’s door.

Recovered from the suspects were cash amounting to P15,050.

When frisked, Elpedio was yielded with 3 sachets of suspected shabu and a caliber .40 pistol while Armando was confiscated with 6 sachets of shabu, an improvised tooter and a disposable lighter.

Elpedio presented a license for his gun but failed to show a permit to carry firearm outside of residence (PTCFOR).*