NAGA CITY-Commercial establishment owner and businessman Pablo "Jungie" Roco, a relative of late Senator Raul S. Roco and resident of Barangay San Felipe this city, was gunned down by an unidentified assailant while jogging along Balatas Road in front of the Basilica Minore of Our Lady of Peñaframcia at about 5:15 am Thursday (June 11), reports from the Naga City Police Office said.
Roco, who had just celebrated his 44th birthday the night before he was killed, was jogging when he was attacked by his killer.
"I heard two bangs. It was only later when I realized that the gunshots were directed to my husband," a jogging companion said, adding that she was about 50 meters away when the incident happened.
Roco sustained gunshots on his chest and was brought to the Mother Seton Hospital in this city but passed away later.
Motive for the killing remains unclear while investigation is underway.
In the wake of the latest shooting incident, the city government through peace and order committee chair Councilor Jose Tuason has proposed detailing more police personnel to enhance police visibility in the area, which is now dubbed as a "killing field."
Vice-Mayor Gabriel Bordado said after the incident he immediately met with Senior Superintendent Edwin Jose Nemenzo, Naga City Police Director, on the matter.
"Two heavily armed police troopers usually guarded Balatas Road but no police personnel were there [when the incident happened]."
A year ago, Paco Ojeda, administrator of Naga City Public Market was gunned down in the same road-about 300 meters from where Roco was shot- also while jogging very early in the morning.
Roco was a member of Chi Sigma Fraternity and Ateneo de Naga High School Batch 1982.