ORMOC CITY– A job order (JO) employee of the local government unit (LGU) in Calubian, Leyte expressed deep remorse as he broke down in tears after being arrested at a police checkpoint.
He was fleeing the scene where he fatally shot an elderly farmer on Monday night, January 20, at Sitio Liga, Barangay Laray, about 30 kilometers from the town proper.
Calubian Chief of Police, Cpt.Alexander Alfonzo, identified the victim as alias “Rosalio” III, 65, a married farmer and the suspect, alias “Leonie,” a JO employee of the LGU-Calubian. Both were residents of Sitio Liga, Barangay Laray.
According to the police report, the station was alerted by village chairwoman Roberlly Balangatan of Laray, who reported the shooting incident via phone.
Responding to the call, officers arrived at the scene and found the victim lying lifeless with a gunshot wound to his back. Local barangay officials had cordoned off the area while the suspect had already fled on an unidentified motorcycle.
The Scene of the Crime Operatives (SOCO) was immediately called to process the crime scene.
By 11:04 pm the same evening, the suspect was apprehended during a hot pursuit operation. Police confiscated the alleged weapon used in the crime, described as a .357 revolver without markings, loaded with four live rounds and one fired cartridge.
The suspect admitted his intent was to scare the victim by pointing the borrowed revolver at him when it accidentally discharged, hitting the victim in the back. He said he was overcome with panic and regret upon seeing the victim convulse and take his final breath, prompting him to flee the scene.
The suspect was informed of the nature of his arrest and his constitutional rights in a language he understood. He was subsequently taken to Calubian Municipal Police Station, along with the recovered firearm and other pieces of evidence, for documentation and proper disposition.
The police filed charges of homicide against the suspect, along with a separate case for violating the Commission on Elections (Comelec) gun ban.
(ROBERT DEJON)
