Illegal wiretapping causes man his life

CEBU, Philippines - A man met his untimely death after he was allegedly mauled and shot by his neighbors past 7pm Sunday over a dispute on electrical connections in sitio Lawis, Barangay Alaska-Mambaling.

The victim was identified as Robert Ceballos, 36, while three of the suspects were identified only as “Lito,” Jang-jang,” and “Bingkol.” The other two remains unidentified.

According to a 19-year-old male witness, Ceballos was standing in front of his house when the suspects appeared and helped each other in mauling him. Ceballos reportedly managed to run away, but came back with an improvised shotgun, locally known as “pugakhang.”

However, before he could even avenge himself, one of the suspects pulled out a gun and shot Ceballos, hitting him on the stomach. He was rushed to the Cebu City Medical Center, but was declared dead on arrival.

SPO4 Alex Dacua of the Homicide Section of the Cebu City Police Office said the suspects reportedly got irked at Ceballos because the victim allegedly removed all the electric connections they have tapped on a mainline of the Visayas Electric Company.

Ceballos, ironically, was one of those who had his electrical connection tapped to the MCWD mainline, but got irked at the suspects because his connection reportedly did not work.

“Apil nang biktima mingsuhol sad sa mga suspetsado para i-wiretap sad ang kuryente sa iya balay. Unya kay wa man misiga sa iya balay. Mao ‘to sa kasuko niya, iya gipangtangtang ang gipang-wiretap sa ubang balay. Nasuko sad ang mga suspetsado nganong gibuhat na niya mao gidumtan na siya,” Dacua said.

The fleeing suspects are now subject of hot a pursuit operation. — Niña G. Sumacot/JMO (FREEMAN NEWS)