Suspect in 'bad haircut' murder killed by victim's brother

ILOILO CITY, Philippines  – Benjie Lozada, 36-year-old suspect in the November 30 killing of barber-pastor Charlie Agustino, was shot dead inside his detention cell by Nonito Agustino, 43, brother of Lozada’s victim.

Benjie, reportedly a mentally-challenged person, hacked his barber Charlie dead after he was teased by his neighbors that his haircut was badly done. He later surrendered to the Calinog Police.

Benjie was inside the lock-up cell of the Calinog Police Station when Nonito arrived to offer chips and biscuits to the suspected killer of his brother.

Nonito first approached Benjie’s mother who was at the police station and asked her where Benjie was because he had some foods to give her son.

According to police reports, Nonito’s mother and the mother of Benjie were at the police station when the incident happened. They were about to go to the Ramon Avanceña Hall of Justice in this city for the filing of a murder charge against Benjie.

Before they could leave, Nonito who came from the Calinog Rural Health Unit to secure the autopsy report, arrived and approached Benjie’s mother saying he had some chips and biscuits for Benjie, who was inside the cell with other prisoners.

Thinking that it was a sincere offer, the mother accepted and directly went to the lock-up cell and gave it to her son Benjie, who was allegedly singing at the time. Shortly after, gunfire rang inside and policemen saw Nonito shooting Benjie with a break-type single-shot 12-gauge shotgun.

Benjie was hit just below his mouth, and Nonito immediately surrendered his gun to the police, while Benjie’s mother was hysterical. Policemen quickly rushed Benjie to the Calinog District Hospital but he died after five minutes. – (FREEMAN)