By Glazyl M. Jopson
BACOLOD CITY – Police are investigating business and financial disputes as possible motives behind the fatal shooting of two Chinese businessmen, allegedly carried out by the brother of one of the victims inside their construction firm compound in Barangay Bubog, Talisay City, Negros Occidental, on Friday.
Police Major Rhazl Jim Jocson, deputy chief of the Talisay City Police Station, said the latest fatality was a 30-year-old business partner of the suspect’s older brother.
He died in a hospital hours after the shooting due to a gunshot wound to the chest.
Jocson said the 51-year-old suspect allegedly shot his 59-year-old brother in the head while they were talking inside the compound.
The younger victim was also shot when he encountered the fleeing suspect while checking the commotion outside the office.
Police arrested the suspect immediately after responding to the report.
Officers were nearby conducting a checkpoint when the shooting occurred.
Jocson said the suspect claimed that business and money issues led to the shooting.
However, the victims’ families denied the allegations.
The suspect and his older brother had previously settled a dispute in January 2023, but police are still determining if the conflict was business-related or personal.
After the previous dispute, the suspect was barred from entering the compound, yet his older brother still agreed to meet him last Friday.
Jocson said the suspect neither admitted nor denied the crime.
“He just said he doesn’t know why he did it,” Jocson added.
Police will file two counts of murder against the suspect on Monday, March 10.
