By Glazyl M. Jopson
BACOLOD CITY — Police arrested three persons, including two brothers, for the fatal shooting of a 55-year-old caretaker of a boarding house in Purok Bagong Hilway, Barangay 22 on Friday night, March 13.
Police Capt. Efren Legada, head of Police Station 1, identified the alleged gunman as 23-year-old “Jer” and two other suspects, “Jun,” 34, and their brother-in-law, “Jon,” a resident of Kabankalan City, Negros Occidental.
Legada said the shooting happened while the victim was having a drinking session in front of a sari-sari store.
Jer and his brother Jun arrived on a motorcycle and had a brief conversation with the victim before gunshots rang out.
The suspects reportedly shot the victim in the head and chest with an alleged KG9 submachine gun concealed in a sack, causing his immediate death.
A KG9 is a compact, semiautomatic or automatic firearm commonly associated with illegal gun ownership in the Philippines due to its concealability and high rate of fire.
Police later received information about the whereabouts of the two suspects, prompting authorities to conduct surveillance that led to their apprehension in a rented house in Barangay 20.
Recovered from Jer were an unidentified firearm with a magazine inserted, one magazine loaded with eight live rounds of 9mm ammunition, 57 additional live rounds of 9mm ammunition, two ammunition boxes, a karambit knife, a sack, one live round of 9mm ammunition, and one fired cartridge of .38 caliber.
Seized from alias Jon were one revolver loaded with five live rounds and one fired cartridge, 23 live rounds of .38 caliber ammunition, one fired cartridge of the same caliber, a black gun holster, and a black sling bag.
Legada said the suspects’ grudge stemmed from repeated altercations with the victim after they were previously told to move out of the rented house due to complaints from other renters.
The victim had previously reported to the barangay that he received threats from the two brothers.
Murder charges are being readied against the two brothers, while a case for illegal possession of firearm and ammunition will be filed against their brother-in-law.
Under the Revised Penal Code, murder is punishable by reclusion perpetua, or imprisonment of 20 years and one day to 40 years, when committed with treachery, evident premeditation, or other qualifying circumstances.
Police Col. Eugene Rebadomia, officer-in-charge of the Bacolod City Police Office, said the city police force is committed to ensuring that no crime goes unpunished.
The Police Regional Office-Negros Island Region commended the swift response and coordinated efforts of the Bacolod City Police Office, emphasizing that prompt and decisive police action plays a vital role in preventing further violence and ensuring that those responsible for criminal acts are immediately apprehended and held accountable under the law.
