Wife dead, another hurt in gun scuffles with husbands

CEBU — A teenage wife was killed and another was wounded when they grappled for guns with their husbands in separate incidents in the province, authorities said.

Couple Benjamin Rivas, 37, and Russel, 18, who had been married for only a month, had a heated argument last Sunday night when Benjamin disallowed Russel from visiting a friend.

Rebuffed, Russel allegedly took an unlicensed caliber .22 and fired at her husband, hitting him in the back.

But Benjamin said he attempted to get the gun from his wife and while grappling for it, it went off, fatally hitting her in the left breast.

The couple were staying with Benjamin’s parents in Barangay Bakilid, Mandaue City.

Police, however, are investigating why Benjamin failed to inform the household members about what had happened.

Worried that the couple did not come out of their room the following day, Benjamin’s father knocked on the door and when no one answered, forced it open. He then found his son bleeding and the latter’s wife lifeless in bed.

In the second incident, in Barangay Linao, Talisay City, Leona Encarnacion saw her husband Ignacio poking a gun at one Silving Labiaga and tried to take it. But the gun went off, hitting her in the arm.

Ignacio, who was reportedly drunk then, had been jealous of Labiaga whom he suspected had a liking for his wife.

A bystander, a certain Anselmo Canillo, tried to appease Ignacio who was pointing the gun at Labiaga. But Leona arrived and grappled for the gun.

Seeing his wife hit, Ignacio hastily fled. — Freeman News Service