Guard guns down 2 alleged “bullies”

CEBU, Philippines — A 42-year-old man was killed while another remains in critical condition after they were shot by a security guard who allegedly bore a long-standing grudge against them in Sitio Antonio, Barangay Calamba on Friday morning, March 27.

The fatality was identified as Vicente Gemuta, 42, while the other victim was Renato Belanizo, 52. Both are residents of the barangay.

Police identified the suspect as Joel Rentuma, 48, a resident of Sitio Arca, Barangay Punta Princesa, and a security guard assigned at a towing service company located across the crime scene.

Responding personnel from the Cebu City Police Office (CCPO) arrested Rentuma at his workplace shortly after the incident, following identification by witnesses.

Initial investigation showed that at around 10:15 a.m., the victims were seated along the roadside when the suspect suddenly approached and shot them multiple times. Neighbors reported hearing four to five gunshots before discovering the victims lying side by side, bloodied.

Both were rushed to the Cebu City Medical Center, where Gemuta was declared dead on arrival. Belanizo remains in critical condition as of this writing.

Police recovered from the suspect a .38 caliber revolver, four spent cartridges, and one live round believed to have been used in the shooting.

Personnel from Sawang Calero Police Station 6, the Tactical Motorcycle Riding Unit, Mobile Patrol Unit, and the Special Weapons and Tactics (SWAT) unit responded to the incident.

CCPO spokesperson Police Lt. Col. Franco Rudolf Oriol said the shooting was allegedly triggered by a personal grudge, claiming the victims had repeatedly bullied the suspect.

“Ang kining duha ka biktima maoy sige’g bully niya. Everytime naa siya sa duty, sigehan siya og bugal-bugal unya kapila na daw ni siya ka beses,” he said.

Oriol added that the suspect allegedly lost control after the victims continued to mock him in front of his child, who had just arrived to deliver his lunch.

“Kaganina wala na siya ka agwanta kay giapil pod iyang anak… Mao to nigawas siya sa iyang gitrabahoan unya iyang giduol kaning duha ka biktima unya iyang gipamusil dayon,” Oriol said.

“Murag naulaw siya kay tungoran sa iyang anak gibugal-bugalan siya,” he added.

When asked about the nature of the alleged bullying, Oriol said it involved insults related to the suspect’s physical appearance and work.

“Bisan unsa nalang daw na bugal-bugal bahin sa trabaho, bahin sa itsura, ug mga bugal-bugal lang basin kabahin pod sa mga biktima na basin og komedya lang,” he said. “Sa iyaha murag nalain siya or naa siguro siyay pagdumot gumikan guro na wala siya kauyon sa mga komedya or aning mga biktima.”

Meanwhile, Gemuta’s sister, Jovelyn, called for justice and urged authorities to conduct a drug test on the suspect.

“Akong gihangyo sa pulis karon nga i-conduct siya og drug test kay basin possible nga naggamit siya og droga kay kung tarong [siya], dile [siya] mupatay og tao kay mao ra nay rason,” she said. “Mangita jud mi og hustisya nga dile gyud pwede nga makabuhi siya.”

She also rejected the claim that her brother had bullied the suspect.

“More than 20 years na mi gapuyo diha pero wala ever since nakakita og away. So, murag lisod kaayo dawaton ang iyang rason nga gibully siya nga hinungdan ra nga iyang patyon,” she said.

“Wala siyay nitingog kay six months pa na siya gapuyo sa V. Rama. Murag bag-o ra kaayo siya ba unya isog na kaayo siya na mugama og ingon ana nga krimen nga mupatay siyag tao kay gi-bully daw siya,” she added.

Rentuma is currently detained at the custodial facility of the Sawang Calero Police Station as authorities prepare the filing of appropriate charges.