Gunmen storm hospital, kill former mayor in Cebu town

June 19, 2019

Unidentified gunmen barged into a hospital in a Cebu town where they shot a former mayor dead on Tuesday, the spokesman of the Cebu provincial police said Wednesday.

In an interview over dzmM, Police Lt. Colonel Elovelo Marquez said former Medellin Mayor Ricardo  Ramirez was killed inside a private hospital where he has been under hospital arrest since 2017.

Citing a report from Medellin police, Marquez said: "according to the investigators, around 11 pm, three SUVs and another car arrived in the hospital. Inside the vehicles were more or less 15 armed men who immediately stormed the hospital."

Marquez said the armed men disarmed the hospital security guards, confiscated personnel's' mobile phones, and threatened staffers at the lobby and emergency room. 

"They took a nurse and ordered to direct them to former Mayor Ricky Ramirez' room. The suspects barged into the room and fired shots at Ramirez," Marquez said. 

Marquez said authorities had found drug paraphernalia in Ramirez's house when they implemented a search warrant for illegal possession for firearms.

Ramirez appealed to be put under hospital arrest due to alleged illness. 

Marquez added that Marquez was a confirmed drug user. 

Police said they are still investigating the case. Cristina Eloisa Baclig/DMS