Ex-cop shoots ex-dad

CEBU, Philippines - A former Talisay City councilor landed in the hospital after he was shot by a retired policeman in a cockpit yesterday at 1:30 p.m. at Friendly Homes Subdivision, barangay Bulacao, Talisay City.

The police identified the victim as Emilio Go, a former city councilor. Go sustained a gunshot wound in the neck and abdomen and was immediately taken to the Chong Hua Hospital by a relative.

Aside from Go, 30-year old Junrey Larayos was also shot in the abdomen and is being treated at the Vicente Sotto Memorial Medical Center.

It was not yet confirmed as of press time if Larayos was involved in the quarrel or was just hit by a stray bullet.

Retired SPO3 Ulysis Desamparado, 53, surrendered to the police where he turned over his licensed caliber .45 pistol and two magazines with seven live bullets each. Aside from the license, he also has a permit to carry his gun.

SPO1 Mikie Espina, SPO1 Rolando Bastida, PO3 Ferdinand Pablo and PO3 Benedicto Lasque responded to the scene.

Espina told The Freeman that Go and Desamparado had a misunderstanding about the cockfight which was held as part of the celebration of the subdivision’s fiesta.

Before the shooting, Go and Buenafe Desamaparado’s fighting cocks were in the middle of a fight inside the cockpit. Buenafe is the younger brother of Ulysis.

The referee declared Buenafe’s fighting cock as the winner although the two roosters died, prompting Go’s supporter to shout that there was no winner.

Rules of the cockfight say that the winner has the right to get the “bihag” or the dead fighting cock. But Go’s camp allegedly refused to give the bihag to the camp of Buenafe and did not give the P12,600 bet money.

The argument between Go and Ulysis, and between supporters of both camps, resulted in the shooting.

The police recovered from the crime scene four empty shells of caliber .45 and a slug of same caliber, as well as a live bullet of caliber .45 pistol near the car where Go allegedly took cover.

Espina added that Go, Ulysis and Larayos will be made to undergo paraffin tests and the bullet police recovered will be submitted for ballistic examination.

Ulysis is detained in the Talisay City detention cell awaiting charges. /JPM (FREEMAN)