Former convict shot dead by drunk pal

CEBU, Philippines - An ex-convict was shot dead by his neighbor while they were drinking in his house in Sitio Sto. Niño Village, Barangay Mantalungon, Dalaguete town, around 8 p.m. last Monday.

Jose Golen, 58, was shot in the abdomen and was first taken to the Julio Cardinal Rosales Memorial Hospital for treatment.  But due to the severity of his injury Golen was referred to the Vicente Sotto Memorial Medical Center in Cebu City.

He was declared dead around 3 a.m. yesterday by the attending physician.

Suspect, Rosendo “Sendo” Beldad, a truck boy, fled right after the incident.

Intelligence operatives of the Dalaguete Police Station are now looking for Beldad.

Dalaguete Police Station desk officer SPO1 Veronico Sentino said that before the shooting Golen and Beldad were drinking with two other neighbors, Danny Becher and Flapio Monceda.

All were already drunk when Beldad suddenly left the group and decided to go to his house that was just a few meters away.

Sentino alleged that Beldad came back already armed with a handgun and shot Golen once without apparent reason.

Sentino suspected that Beldad and Golen had a grudge against each other that intensified when they got drunk.

Golen was once detained at the New Bilibid Prisons in Muntinlupa City for murder. However, Sentino could no longer remember how many years Golen spent in jail and when he was released.

“Nakapatay na siya sa Mantalungon ra pud pero dugay na kaayo to,” Sentino said in a phone interview.

Sentino clarified that murder case of Golen had nothing to do with this incident.  - /BRP (FREEMAN)