By Jennifer P. Rendon
[Trigger Warning: Mentions of self-harm]
An elderly man shot and wounded his wife before turning the gun on himself evening of April 25, 2023.
The incident happened at the house of spouses Romeo Paclibar, 66, and Sarah Paclibar, 61, at Barangay Cuartero, Jaro, Iloilo City.
Romeo, a retired seafarer, died instantly after sustaining a gunshot injury on his head.
On the other hand, Sarah suffered a gunshot wound on her left leg.
She also sustained lacerated wounds on her head after Romeo punched her in the head twice.
Neighbors claimed to have heard at least four gunshots before the bloodied Romeo’s body was found.
His wife was subsequently taken to Iloilo Mission Hospital for treatment.
Several neighbors told police investigators that the couple would usually figure in a verbal tussle.
At around lunchtime on Tuesday, Sarah allegedly went to the barangay hall and asked village officials to summon her husband.
Captain Lester Oliveros, Iloilo City Police Station 3 chief, said that the woman expressed fear after seeing her husband with a firearm.
It appeared that the cause of their argument that led to a violent confrontation was their internet bill.
The two allegedly went into a verbal tussle until Romeo punched her head twice.
Frizza Paclibar, the couple’s daughter, said she was upstairs when her parents fought again.
She readily went downstairs when her sister-in-law, Ida, shouted for help.
They tried to meddle but Romeo pulled a gun tucked in his waist. They then ran outside and sought help at the barangay hall, which is about 100 meters away from their home.
When they returned, their mother was wounded and being wheeled out to be taken to the hospital.
Romeo was sprawled inside their house with a gunshot wound on his head.
With Romeo’s death, Oliveros said the case is deemed close.
The Department of Health, through the National Center for Mental Health, has a national crisis hotline to assist people with mental health concerns.
The hotline can be reached at 0917-899-8727 and 0966-351-4518 for Globe and TM subscribers, and 0908-639-2672 for Smart and Sun subscribers.
