By Jennifer P. Rendon
A misunderstanding over their aunt’s vast land claimed the life of a 26-year-old woman from Banate, Iloilo.
Joyce Ferrer, 26, a resident of Barangay Banglaan, Anilao but was staying at Sitio Punta, Barangay Merced, Banate, died following a gun attack morning of April 30, 2022.
Joyce was at the basketball court several meters from her house when her cousin, 42-year-old Mel Ferrer, also a resident of Merced village, arrived.
Mel confronted the victim. It wasn’t long before Joyce saw that the suspect was armed with a handgun.
She immediately scampered but tripped on her feet.
Mel then shot and hit Joyce on the left side of her chest.
She was rushed to Gov. Niel D. Tupas District Hospital in Barotac Viejo town but was declared dead on arrival.
Mel fled after the incident and remains at large, as of this writing.
Master Sergeant Joelito Babayo II, Banate police investigator, said the cousins also had a heated argument evening of April 29.
A witness claimed that Joyce was heard saying “Gwa ka da sa balay mo. Tiruha ko di ((Get out of your house. Shoot me),” while outside Mel’s house.
Babayo surmised that Mel had planned to kill Joyce when he confronted her at the basketball court, which is some 15 meters away from her house.
Earlier that day (April 30), the suspect allegedly ordered his live-in partner and their three children to hide as far as they could.
Hours later, Mel attacked his cousin.
Babayo said the conflict between the two started when both showed interest in managing their aunt’s property.
Their aunt, who is staying in Metro Manila, owns more than 20 hectares of farmland.
From then on, rumors were exchanged against each camp that further aggravated the conflict.
Babayo said they tried to negotiate Mel’s family to turn him in but to no avail.
