By Jennifer P. Rendon
Police have arrested a suspect in the fatal shooting of a 51-year-old barangay tanod in Pavia, Iloilo on the evening of March 22.
The suspect, identified only as alias Regie, 41, was arrested at his home in Barangay Amparo, Pavia at around 3:04 a.m. on March 24.
Maj. Harold Rendora, Pavia police chief, said Regie appeared to be preparing to flee, as his belongings were already packed when authorities arrived.
Police recovered a chamber-loaded .45-caliber pistol with a magazine containing four rounds of ammunition from Regie’s possession.
Rendora said the firearm was owned by the victim, Carmelino Minor.
Regie reportedly admitted to the killing but claimed it was an act of self-defense and not intentional.
He said their confrontation stemmed from Minor’s unpaid debt.
Regie alleged that Minor borrowed PHP10,000 in cash from him in November 2024.
He said Minor told him the money would be used as a down payment for a motorcycle.
Regie added that Minor later borrowed another PHP5,600 and promised to pay by January 2025.
However, Regie claimed he never received any payment.
Minor’s family, however, denied that the victim mentioned any unpaid debts.
Rendora said police are preparing to file charges for murder under Article 248 of the Revised Penal Code and for violation of Republic Act 10591, or the Comprehensive Law on Firearms and Ammunition.
Minor’s body was discovered several hundred meters from his house in Zone 4-B, Barangay Amparo, Pavia.
He sustained a gunshot wound to the upper left torso, believed to be caused by a 12-gauge shotgun.
A passing motorist saw the body around 9 p.m. Saturday after noticing a parked vehicle along a trail.
Police believe Minor had been dead for about an hour when he was found.
