Cop’s slay suspect killed by victim’s kin

CEBU, Philippines – A 41-year-old man, who was tagged in the death of a police officer three years ago, was shot dead Tuesday evening in Jaro district of Iloilo City.

Police investigators believed that the killing of Archie Degoma, of Barangay Tacas, Jaro, could be related to the death of Police Officer 3 Jerome Jaculina, 38, an intelligence officer of Jaro Police Station.

Witnesses pointed to PO3 Jaculina’s cousins, Rodney Jaculina and Eugenio Jaculina, as the ones who shot Degoma dead inside the Tacas gym where they had a drinking binge during a birthday party.

Inspector Ronaldo Amihan, Jaro Police deputy chief, said several angles have been considered in the killing of Degoma but the most likely motive was grudge, in relation to the killing of the policeman in 2012.

Police said that, while the Jaculina cousins were drinking, they stood up to approach Degoma in the other table and shot the latter many times. The victim managed to run several meters away, but the perpetrators chased and fired more shots at him. Degoma fell by the roadside, outside the gym, and died on the spot with at least 12 gunshot wounds.

Scene of the Crime operatives later recovered at least 15 empty shells of bullets for a .9mm pistol. (FREEMAN)