ALDEGUER, MANIATIS EXPRESS SHOCK OVER TRAINER BANTIGUE'S KILLING

Bantigue.

ALA Promotions president Michael Aldeguer and well-known Australian promoter Peter Maniatis have expressed shock over the killing of trainer Lowie Bantigue by the father of a girl he was reportedly courting at 2:00 a.m. in Mandaue City while buying beer at a store in Mandaue City on Saturday.

Aldeguer told the Manila Standard that Bantigue, a former boxer was ?a good kid and the fighters liked him a lot. He wasn?t a great boxer but he had a knack for the fight game.?

Bantigue worked the corner of flyweight mandatory challenger Milan Melindo in his last fight in Macau and was also in the corner of ALA fighters in ?Pinoy Pride XX? at the Waterfront Hotel and Casino in Cebu last May 25.

Witnesses identified an alleged drug addict father of the girl Bantigue was courting as the gunman. He was identified as Danilo Pepito who reportedly appeared suddenly and shot Bantigue four times at the back of the head. He died on the spot. Pepito was on the wanted list of the police for his alleged involvement in illegal drugs.

Maniatis told the Standard from Melbourne that Bantigue ?helped Randy Petalcorin (PABA flyweight champion) in sparring and training last year and was in training camp. He was a very good person.?

Maniatis suggested ?there should be a good look at weapons laws in the Philippines and obtaining weapons should be made harder. This is shocking.?

The 28 year old Bantigue joined the core of the ALA training staff after he retired in 2012 with a record of 21-21-7 with 12 knockouts.