Badian councilman eyed in neighbor’s shooting

CEBU, Philippines - Police are now looking for a barangay councilman who allegedly shot his neighbor dead in Barangay Malabago, Badian town, last Sunday evening.

Ariel Avenido, 38, escaped after reportedly shooting 34-year-old Ale-xander Otoc, who later died in the hospital.

Earlier, the victim watched a basketball tournament at a nearby basketball and was last seen walking toward the national highway past 9 p.m. when gunshots were heard.

Residents and bystanders followed the direction of the gunshots and found Otoc beside the roadside, lying in his own blood.

Some witnesses told responding policemen they saw the councilman shoot the victim.

The victim was rushed to the Badian District Hospital and was later transferred to the  Vicente Sotto Memorial Medical Center in Cebu City for treatment.

The victim later succumbed to gunshot wounds to the left side of his chest and his abdomen.

Inspector Reyco Romaguera, chief of the Badian Police Station, said Otoc’s father appeared before them yesterday morning and informed them about the victim’s death.

Romaguera said they are still trying to determine the councilman’s motive in killing the victim, as even the victim’s family was clueless as to the reason.

He said they will file a murder case against the suspect, who has apparently left Badian.

“Amo nang giadto ang iyang balay, ang balay sa iyang mga fellow barangay councilors, ug mga amigo, wala g’yud,” the station chief said.

Recovered from the crime scene were two slugs and an empty shell of a .45 cal. pistol.  (FREEMAN)