2 Iloilo cops tagged in slays

CEBU, Philippines - Two policemen have been tagged in separate shootings in the province that left two persons dead.

Senior Superintendent Gil Lebin, Iloilo police director, identified the suspects as PO2 Beverly Lorilla of San Rafael municipal police, and PO1 Johnny Payas, detachment commander of a Community Police Assistance Center in San Enrique town.

Lorilla immediately surrendered to authorities after shooting his friend and high school batch mate, barangay councilman Delfin Celo III, 35, at the Calinog town plaza shortly after midnight last Friday.

Prior to the incident, the two were seen whispering to each other. Before their classmates, who were sharing a table with them, could react, Lorilla pulled his service firearm and shot Celo.

Celo died from bullet wounds in the neck, face, and one side of his body.

Payas remains at large. He was accused of fatally shooting Abner Casanova, 58, of Barangay Imbang Pequeño, San Enrique town.

There were two versions of what happened. In the first, Payas allegedly pacified an unruly Casanova who then tried to attack him. In the other, Payas reportedly got irked of Casanova, who was said to be a loudmouth. —/FPL (FREEMAN)