DUMAGUETE CITY–A Dumaguete lawyer succumbed to bullet wounds Friday afternoon some three hours after he was shot by a still unidentified suspect inside his office at the second floor Leq Tak Building corner San Jose and Sta. Catalina Streets at 11 a.m.
Lawyer Archer Baldwin R. Martinez, 48, was shot thrice in the chest and was rushed to the Holy Child Hospital where doctors later pronounced him dead.
Lawyer Cynthia Sulit-Portugaleza, Martinez’ law partner, said she was entertaining three clients in their office, which was hidden from Martinez’ view by a divider.
“We heard three very loud blasts. We did not know where the sound came from, and neither did we know it was gunfire but everyone ducked for cover,” Portugaleza said.
It took about ten minutes before they noticed that Martinez was already slumped on his desk. “That was when we learned that the gunshots came from inside our office and that it was Martinez who was shot,” Portugaleza said.
Martinez was taken to the hospital by his secretary, Vincenzo Galera, and a traffic aide.
Portugaleza said she does not know if Martinez had been handling a sensitive case.
Lawyer Raymund Mercado, past governor of IBP West Visayas, said he, too, is unaware of cases that Martinez was handling which could have endangered his life. “What I know is that he handled many cases and had clients from distant places, like Guihulngan City,” Mercado said. Guihulngan City is 116 kilometers north of Dumaguete.
Sr. Supt. Rey Lyndon Lawas, Negros Oriental PNP chief, said they recovered three shells of a .45 caliber pistol and two live bullets at the crime scene.
Police have launched a manhunt for the suspect, who witnesses said was wearing a dark baseball cap and a white t-shirt.
Martinez taught at the Foundation University College of Law and was the incumbent vice president of the IBP Negros Oriental Chapter. He was also Past President of the Rotary Club of Dumaguete South.
Martinez’ remains were brought to the Eterna Funeral Chapels.