Spat over "Sigbin" leads to murder; Toughie shot dead in Balamban town

CEBU, Philippines - Two people were shot dead on different incidents, one arising from an argument over the presence of Sigbin, yesterday morning. 

Lester Tarden, 20, was also shot dead in Barangay Kalidngan, Carcar City at 4:00 a.m. yesterday by one of his drinking buddies, Edwin Panginoyug.

Panginoyug, 39, of Barangay Kalidngan killed the victim after an argument over “Sigbin”, a mythical creature in the Philippines associated with witchcraft.

At least three witnesses told the police that Tarden and Panginoyug had a heated argument over the presence of “Sigbin” in Naga City where the victim comes from.

According to the investigation, Tarden was sleeping inside a small nipa hut owned by Alfredo Alesna, one of his drinking buddies, when Panginoyug shot him twice using a caliber .45 pistol.

PO3 Vicente Garces, Jr. of Carcar City Police Station said Alexander Mendoza and Catalino Alesna, also drinking buddies and co-workers of the victim, witnessed the shooting incident.

The two then took Tarden to the Carcar Provincial Hospital for possible treatment but he died because of two gunshot wounds in his body.

Garces said that prior to the incident the victim and the suspect had a drinking session along with the witnesses. Tarden, a resident of Barangay Cogon, Naga City, went to Carcar City where he makes jalousie blades and window grills as a living.

The two were in the middle of their conversation when Panginoyug told Tarden that there are many Sigbins in Naga City.

The victim denied the presence of Sigbin in his place resulting in a heated argument between the two. Moments later, they slept but the suspect came back and shot the victim.

A hot pursuit operation was conducted by the Carcar City Police against the suspect but the latter was able to escape after shooting it out with the responding policemen

Meanwhile, a known toughie in Balamban, Eduardo Georpo, 35, was also shot dead by two unidentified gunmen in Barangay Baliwagan, Balamban.

Georpo was about to leave his house at 1:00 a.m. yesterday when the unidentified assailants shot him several times. The victim was hit in the different parts of the body and died on the spot.

Police investigators recovered eight spent shells for caliber .45 pistol at the crime scene. SPO1 Julius Obañana of the Balamban Police Station said that nobody witnessed the incident since it happened at dawn and the area was dark.

Police learned from the neighbors that the victim was a toughie in the area and has been in and out of jail.

Obañana said that the victim despite having several records was always released from jail because of the victims’ failure to press charges.    - THE FREEMAN