By Jennifer P. Rendon
A 32-year-old barangay tanod allegedly shot one of his drinking buddies to death on the morning of Nov. 14 in Buenavista, Guimaras.
The suspect, Teddy Paul Gallo, 32, of Purok 1, Barangay Tastasan, Buenavista, voluntarily surrendered nearly two hours after the incident.
Gallo allegedly gunned down Rey Montaño, 44, of Sitio Bagacay, Barangay Agsanayan, Buenavista, following a 13-hour drinking session with several other men.
The group began their drinking spree around 6 p.m. Wednesday while helping prepare food for a debut party set for Thursday.
Later, Gallo, Montaño, and two other friends continued drinking at the house of Rosal Mae Marquez.
During the session, Gallo and Montaño, both intoxicated, got into an argument after Montaño accused Gallo of pocketing money collected earlier for their drinks.
The accusation angered Gallo, who claimed he had simply forgotten that he put the money in his pocket.
After the verbal exchange, Gallo left Marquez’s house and went home.
At around 7:30 a.m., he returned, this time armed.
Gallo then shot Montaño three times, hitting him twice—once under his right armpit and once on the right side of his chest.
Montaño was rushed to Buenavista Emergency Hospital, where he was pronounced dead on arrival.
Gallo fled the scene but surrendered to a policewoman around 9:12 a.m.
However, the firearm used in the shooting was not recovered.
Charges against Gallo are pending.
