Policeman shot dead by neighbor

CEBU, Philippines - A policeman assigned to the personnel division of the Police Regional Office-7 died yesterday morning after he was shot in the head by a neighbor last Saturday evening in his house in sitio Litmon barangay Poblacion, Talisay City.

The fatality was identified as PO2 Boyet Racaza, 31, a resident of the said place while the assailant was identified by the witnesses as Anthony Aves, alias “Tonton”, 23, from barangay Carreta, Cebu City, but now residing in sitio Litmon.

Talisay City police revealed that Aves was drinking together with his companions Horestes Morada and Jaymar Abellana while Racaza was about to have a drink nearby with Jerry Intoma, the brother-in-law of Aves and at the same time the handler of the roosters of Racaza.

In the middle of drinking Racaza told Aves to move his roosters to another place so their roosters will not fight each other when Aves made the offer to sell two roosters to Racaza for P250 pesos each and throw in a bantam for free.

Racaza and Intoma were looking at the roosters when Aves suddenly shot Racaza once in his head.

Intoma said he and another neighbor Talon Cejas ran to a multicab to hide.

“Mibalik pa gani si Aves unya iyang gitan-aw si Racaza nga gabuy-od unya miingon pa nga patay na, patay na na siya ug dayun balik ug biya,” Intoma said.

Cejas ran away while Intoma shouted for help from their neighbors.

Intoma added that his brother-in-law is hot-tempered, more so when he is drunk.

Policemen arrived at crime scene and recovered an empty shell of a .45 cal. pistol but failed to arrest Aves.

Talisay City Police Chief Henry Biñas said that Aves was imprisoned in the Cebu Provincial Jail for five years because of a shooting incident.

It was also found out that Aves also tried to shoot a barangay tanod in Carreta but the gun misfired.

Aves met his wife in jail after she was arrested for illegal recruitment together with her mother.

“9mm ang service firearm ni Racaza pero .45 nga empty shell ang na-recover sa crime scene so amu pa ning i-investigate if asa ni ug pusil si Aves,” Biñas said.

Intoma has asked to be allowed to sleep in the Talisay City Police Station for fear that Aves will also kill him. — Christopher Gabriel Bonjoc/BRP (THE FREEMAN)