By Jennifer P. Rendon
A manhunt operation was launched against a farmer who allegedly killed a former village chief in Leon, Iloilo.
Ernesto Capio, who is believed to be around 60 years old and a resident of Sitio Buklod, Barangay Cagay, Leon, went into hiding after he attacked four persons evening of May 8, 2021.
Lieutenant Melchor Tolentino, Leon police chief, said the incident claimed the life of Zosimo Loquias, 65, a resident of Barangay Danao, a village that sits adjacent to Cagay.
Capio was also the suspect in the stabbing of Mark Anthony Cari, 26, a resident of Cagay.
He was also deemed responsible for shooting 17-year-old Jan-Jan (not his real name), also of Barangay Cagay, and Mary Ann Tahum, 52, a resident of Barangay Danao, Leon.
Tahum and Loquias are cousins while Cari and Jan-Jan are also their relatives.
Tolentino said Capio began his attacking spree around 9 p.m. Saturday.
He allegedly went to Cari’s house and stabbed the victim’s abdomen. Cari also suffered a defense wound on his left arm.
He left Cari’s house and saw Jan-Jan. Capio allegedly shot the teenager who suffered pellet wounds on his head.
Tolentino said the two victims were taken to the hospital and are now out of danger.
Police operatives did not immediately launch an operation in the area since Cagay is around 30 kilometers from the town proper.
Capio did not stop at attacking the two victims as he also shot Loquias and Tahum who were on their way to the burial of a relative in Cagay village.
Tolentino said the suspect could have used a 12-gauge shotgun during the attacks.
Loquias suffered around 50 pellet wounds on his back and hip.
Tahum survived but Loquias did not pull through.
Initial investigation showed that the incident could have stemmed from a land dispute that started several years ago.
Tolentino said there could have been some misunderstandings on the boundary marks of Capio and another party’s lot.
Recently, the suspect filed a frustrated murder case against Loquias’ relatives following a hacking incident.
However, Capio received information that the case was dismissed.
“It appeared that the two victims or their relatives in the Saturday attack stood as witnesses,” Tolentino said.
The dismissal allegedly irked Capio that he was heard claiming that he would exact revenge.
With Capio still on hiding, Tolentino said they would prepare charges for murder and three counts of frustrated murder against him.
