Two men were shot by an unidentified gunman at 12:30am today near the San Antonio de Padua Church along M.Parras St. in Tagbilaran City.

The Quick Response Team of the city police found the victims, identified as Edwin Merca and Roger Coto, sprawled on the street near a motorcycle they were riding and with multiple gunshot wounds.

Merca, 38 and a resident of Barangay Tan-awan in Loon, sustained two gunshot wounds to his legs, one in his chest, and both his ribs, while Coto, 37 and a resident of Sta. Cruz in Tagbilaran City, was hit in his right rib cage and the left part of his waist.

Both victims were rushed to the Governor Celestino Gallares Memorial Hospital after found by the authorities and are still recuperating.

According to the initial probe of PO2 Rofel Mendoza, Tagbilaran City Police Station investigator, a passerby heard multiple gunshots when he was travelling on a motorcycle near the said church on his way to Mansasa District.

The witness stopped and saw a pickup truck near the crime scene which immediately sped away after the gunshots were heard.

The police collected seven spent shells fired from a .45 caliber pistol from the crime scene and recovered the motorcycle used by the victims.

Authorities are also looking for another man identified as Ondoy Castro who was with the victims during the shooting and had not been seen since after the incident.

City investigators are continuing their probe to identify the motive and people behind the shooting. (with reports from Rey Tutas)