Farmer evades gunshot, kills "son-in-law"

CEBU, Philippines – A man killed his daughter's live-in partner with the use of a stone inside their house in Sitio Site, Barangay Cahumayhumayan, Danao City last Wednesday evening.

Eduardo Hermita, a 48-year-old farmer, voluntarily surrendered to Dionisio Maying, chief tanod of Barangay Cahumayhumayan, after he killed Felix Tapia, 24.

Investigation revealed that Hermita, his wife and grandchildren were in their house when Tapia appeared, carrying a .45 revolver. Tapia was believed to be under the influence of alcohol and allegedly fired his gun towards Hermita.

SPO4 Jose Salinggua Jr. of the Danao City Police Station said that the suspect confessed that he made sure he killed Tapia.

"Pag-surrender niya sa tanod, gidala dayun siya ari sa station. Nagkadugo paman gani to unya ako giingnan na kaligo kay lain ayu. Ako pud gipangutana kung patay ba ang biktima ana pud siya na iya daw gisigurado na patay jud," Salinggua added. (He was still bloodied when he was brought here, I even asked him to take a shower. I asked him if his victim was dead, and he said he made sure of it.)

Hermita, in a phone interview, told The FREEMAN that he killed Tapia with the use of a stone. He said that Tapia arrived at their house around 9:00 p.m. and was angrily shouting at them, saying that he will kill all of them including his two children. Tapia then tried to fire his gun thrice but the gun did not go off. Hermita immediately went over Tapia to stop him, but Tapia again fired the gun on Hermita, who was luckily able to evade.

Hermita was able to take hold of Tapia, but Tapia resisted so Hermita grabbed a stone and hit Tapia several times on the head until he no longer moved.

"Ako jud gisigurado na patay na jud siya kaysa kami pa iya patyon. Ana siya na iya mi hutdon tanan apil na iya duha ka anak," Hermita said, adding that Tapia was involved in a robbery in Carmen before wherein he killed somebody. 

Hermita also said that Tapia often went to their house carrying his gun and would throw anything at them.

Tapia got angry after Hermita's daughter refused to go out with him. The police recovered the .45 revolver with five live ammunitions and one empty shell from the crime scene. (THE FREEMAN)