3 die in separate incidents due to personal grudges

CEBU, Philippines - Personal grudges prompted the killing of three people in separate shooting incidents in Cebu province Wednesday evening.

A coal miner was shot dead in Argao, another was killed in an argument over an artesian well in Minglanilla while an ice drop vendor was shot dead in Balamban.

In the Argao incident, 34-year-old Rolando Celebrico Jr., of Barangay Ablayan, Dalaguete succumbed to eight gunshot wounds in different parts of his body when he was killed by still unidentified motorcycle-riding-men.

Celebrico was reportedly on his way to work in Barangay Balaas where the coal mine owned by Robert Go is located. Just as he was at the store of a certain Dory he was blocked by the unidentified men.

The man riding in pillion shot him several times hitting Celebrico in different parts of his body that caused his untimely death.

The police were able to recover two empty shells of 9mm pistol believed to be from the KG-9 sub-machine gun used by the assailant.

Chief Inspector Alejandro Batobalonos, chief of the Argao Police Station, told The FREEMAN that mistaken identity could be a possible reason for the killing after the victim was tagged as the informant of the police in arresting cousins Rutchie Alonzo, 29 and Jason Alonzo, 27, both of Barangay Ablayan, Dalaguete.

On Tuesday, both cousins were arrested by the Regional Public Safety Battalion-7 by virtue of a warrant for frustrated murder issued by Judge Maximo Perez of the Regional Trial Court Branch 26.

Police Officer 2 Jason Yap, of the Regional Mobile Group, said it was not Celebrico who informed them but their asset.

Batobalonos said they will be investigating the family of the arrested persons so as to get information.

“Pagdakop man gud aning duha, usa nila nibahad sa biktima ingon kuno nga ‘kung makagawas mi ikaw among unang tumbahon’,” he said.

Meanwhile, in the town of Minglanilla, Fernando Lariosa, 56, of Barangay Pakigne was declared dead on arrival at the hospital after he was shot by his neighbor Jose Flores, 41.

The family of the victim rushed him to the South General Hospital in Naga City but he died while on his way there.

The grudge between both parties stemmed when Lariosa who owned an artesian well, allegedly hindered Flores from fetching water.

Police Officer 2 Abelardo Biton said Lariosa even closed the well so that Flores cannot get water from it which irked the latter.

Flores, who could no longer hold his temper after their last altercation on the evening of Wednesday, took a .38 revolver from his house and shot Lariosa once in the back.

He was however arrested during the manhunt operations where police recovered inside his house a .38 revolver loaded with four ammunitions and two slugs as well as a home made shotgun “pugakhang” and 56 ammunitions of a .38 revolver.

Biton said the recovered revolver will be subjected to a ballistic examination at the Firearms Explosives Security Service Agency and Guards Supervisory while Flores shall undergo a paraffin test.

A murder case is now being prepared against Flores who is detained at the Minglanilla police stockade.

In Balamban town, the police are still clueless as to the identity of the assailant of Demetrio Pateño, 50, of Sitio Ibo, Barangay Biasong who succumbed to multiple gunshot wounds in different parts of his body.

 Pateño was allegedly walking home from Barangay Leki while selling a box of ice drop when he was shot dead by a motorcycle-riding-suspect in Barangay Hingatmonan.

Police only recovered seven empty shells and one slug of .45 caliber pistol and three empty shells of 9mm pistol believed to be used by the gunman.

Prior to the incident, Pateño was allegedly playing toss coin ‘hantak’ in Barangay Hingatmonan, which was celebrating its annual fiesta. He was said to have engaged in an altercation with somebody.

But SPO2 Arvie Ba-nate, Balamban police investigator, said the motive of the killing could also be vengeance based on his gunshot wounds.

“Ang paagi sa pagpusil mura’g gadumot kay tiguwang na ra ba bisan usa ka pinusilan dili na ni kabarog,” he said. He added that they will not discount other possibilities that might link to the killing. (FREEMAN)