By Jennifer P. Rendon
Far from being a case of accidental firing, jealousy is now eyed as the main motive in the killing of a 24-year-old woman in Maasin, Iloilo late evening of Wednesday.
The suspect, Rene Maderable, 32, of Sitio Sambag, Barangay Dagami, Maasin, already surrendered to authorities at around 1 p.m. of May 7.
Maderable, a CAFGU (Citizen Armed Force Geographical Unit) member for eight years, surrendered to his detachment commander, Staff Sergeant Calud.
Police Major Fernand Limbungan, Maasin police chief, said that it is unlikely that the suspect accidentally shot the victims Regiene Esperidion, 24, of Barangay Bolo, Maasin, and Dexter John Cordero, 28, also of Dagami village and a relative of Maderable.
Esperidion was fatally hit below her left breast and was pronounced dead on arrival at Ramon Tabiana Memorial District Hospital in Cabatuan town.
Cordero, on the other hand, suffered a minor wound on his leg.
Why did the police discount accidental gun discharge?
Limbungan said Maderable used a caliber .357 revolver.
“His finger might be on the trigger when the short confrontation happened. We initially through that the incident happened because the suspect was drunk. But we later found out that he may have had romantic feelings for Esperidion,” he added.
UNREQUITED LOVE?
Esperidion and her mother Leonida went to Dagami village to greet the victim’s grandmother, who was celebrating her birthday.
Before going home to Bolo, they dropped by Maderable’s house.
The suspect’s younger sister and the victim had been friends for several years.
The Maderables even prepared dinner for the two. But after dinner, the mother went home ahead onboard the suspect’s motorcycle.
The suspect also promised to bring home the victim.
At that time, there was a reported power interruption in the village.
Maderable allegedly arrived home and saw Cordero’s leg resting on Esperidion’s.
A confrontation erupted between the three.
Limbungan said Cordero thought that Maderable would punch Esperidion who was at arm’s length from the suspect.
He tried to parry the attack by raising his leg.
But to Cordero’s surprise, Maderable drew a handgun and fired it.
“We could not tell if the subject of the attack was intended for Esperidion,” Limbungan said.
Leonida also did not buy the claim that the incident was a case of accidental gun discharge.
She believed that the drunken suspect may have had hidden romantic feelings for her daughter.
She claimed their family was more likely to object to the suspect wooing the victim.
But whatever Maderable’s motive was, Leonida said one thing is clear: her daughter is already gone.
Leonida said they are bent on pursuing charges against the suspect.
Limbungan said they are preparing charges for murder, frustrated homicide, and illegal possession of firearm against the suspect.
