CEBU, Philippines - What could be a long-standing quarrel between brothers turned fatal when the younger of the two siblings shot the elder one dead in the town of Argao yesterday morning.
Allan Almirante, 49, and his brother Antonio III, 44, argued over how the elder sibling treated the household help. The two are children of former Cebu 2nd District Provincial Board Member and town mayor Antonio Almirante, Jr.
The elder Almirante served as mayor of the town from 1969 to 1986.
The Almirantes live in a compound in sitio Suba, barangay Poblacion of the town, which lies 67 kilometers from Cebu City.
Allan, who used to work as a clerk at the Land Transportation Office (LTO), was shot by Antonio III thrice when the former allegedly attacked his brother during an argument.
Sr. Supt. Erson Digal, Director of Cebu Provincial Police Office, said Antonio III was prompted to kill his brother, who he allegedly has long hated because of the way he treated their helpers.
Antonio III, according to Digal, was at their living room around 9 a.m. when he reportedly heard his brother scolding the house help at the second floor.
Such actuation of Allan has reportedly irked Antonio III as several of their helpers have already quit their job because of the way they were treated.
Allan was allegedly drunk during the incident.
Antonio III reportedly admonished his elder brother about his actions, but this only further infuriated Allan.
Allan, who had a six-inch knife in his hand when he was confronted by Antonio III, threatened to stab his brother for meddling.
To protect himself, Antonio III reportedly took a gun from the house of their sister, Annabelle, and pointed it at Allan.
Despite seeing the gun in his younger brother’s hand, Allan attacked Antonio III prompting the younger brother to shoot.
Allan was hit twice on his chest and once in his stomach. He died on the spot while Antonio III went to the Argao Police Station and surrendered to the authorities. He did not however bring the gun when he turned himself in.
The suspect alleged that he left the gun at the scene after the shooting, but the police could not locate it.
Antonio III, however, told the police that the gun was licensed under his name.
They, however, found three empty 9 mm shells at the crime scene. They also found the knife that Allan allegedly wielded.
Digal is now urging the family to cooperate in the investigation and has given them three days to decide whether they would file charges against Antonio III or not.
Several members of the family including the mother of Allan and Antonio III were at their compound when the incident happened.
Antonio is now detained at the Argao Police Station while Allan’s body was brought to the St. Peter’s Memorial Chapel in nearby Carcar City.
When interviewed by reporters at the detention cell, Antonio III admitted losing his temper.
He also claimed that Allan had long been trying to find fault since back their high school days.
Annabelle Almirante Berondo, elder sister of the two brothers, said that they would not yet comment on the matter as they are still in a state of shock.
Antonio, Jr., who holds the record of being the longest serving mayor of the town, was in court to attend the trial of a client during the incident.
The family’s oldest house helper, Victoria Mamolo, who is over 70 years old, said over radio station dyLA that she has been serving the family for more or less 50 years.
She claimed that Allan was the type who always got into trouble.
“Kung wala’y sud-an, manuwad na siya ug lamesa,” Mamolo alleged.
Mamolo also alleged that the victim was an alcoholic and had a number of enemies. — with Lesley Caminade/NLQ (THE FREEMAN)