CEBU, Philippines – What could have driven a man to allegedly shoot dead two of former workers and also kill their nephew in the process?
A businessman, who was believed to have been under the influence of liquor, allegedly shot three men dead in sitio Cambiohan, barangay Poblacion, Danao City late the other night.
The suspect was identified as Marlon Gacrama, who owns several businesses.
The fatalities were identified as Arturo Enriquez, 25, his younger brother Rosalio, 24, and their nephew James, 20.
Arturo and Rosalio used to work for Gacrama as installers of video games for his computers.
Police and relatives of the victims believe that personal grudge was the motive for the killing.
This as witnesses related that Gacrama, who came by motorcycle, approached Arturo, who was sitting on the roadside with some relatives and neighbors.
The witnesses said that Gacrama first embraced Arturo and hit him on his back saying, “Pinangga man unta tika, nganong unayon man ko nimo ug patay?” (I am very fond of you, but why are you trying to kill me?)
Seeing this, Rosalio reportedly confronted Gacrama, who got angry at the meddling of the younger Enriquez and allegedly aimed his gun at Rosalio.
Some witnesses tried to stop Gacrama and he initially heeded their plea, but once the others moved backwards, the suspect reportedly shot Rosalio hitting him on the left side of his chest and the right side of his body.
James, who was standing behind Rosalio, was also hit and died on the spot.
Sensing that he was also in danger, Arturo tried to make a dash for safety, but was chased by the suspect, who once again fired hit him on the upper part of his breast and his left leg.
The suspect left behind his motorcycle and fled on foot and remains at large.
The victims were rushed to the Danao District Hospital, but were both declared dead on arrival.
Their bodies have been taken to the Cosmopolitan Funeral Homes in Cebu City for post morten examination.
The police recovered six empty shells from a 9 mm pistol at the crime scene.
Supt. Elmer Lim, Danao City Police chief, said that the motive of the incident was purely personal grudge as one of the victims allegedly stole some of the computer parts owned by the suspect.
He also suspects that there was ill-feeling between the employer and his employee.
“Mura ug nasagol na na tanan, ‘nya naputong na ang suspect,” Lim said.
The police chief also said that the parties involved have no records that they were involved in any illegal activities in the past.
There were many witnesses to the incident and are willing to testify.
Lim also said that there have been accounts that the suspect was allegedly mauled by the Enriquez brothers a week before the shooting incident.
Another witness told the police that Gacrama reportedly test fired his gun the morning of that fateful day of the shooting.
Gacrama’s businesses include video game machines, a bakery, and a piggery.
The family of the suspect has reportedly not coordinated with the police, according to Lim, but he has already sent teams to go after Gacrama. —/NLQ (THE FREEMAN)