Tanod charged for shooting neighbor

CEBU, Philippines - A barangay tanod was charged with murder before the Regional Trial Court for killing a man who allegedly made fun of his brother-in-law.

Rogelio Alferez, a tanod of barangay Calamba, was charged after he shot his neighbor Darwin Tuble to death last February.

One of the witnesses, Elma Villahermosa, said she saw Tuble arguing with Alferez’ brother-in-law Joel Pineda on the same day and that later, she even warned Tuble not to further fuel the argument.

Much later, Alferez and Pineda’s mother came and confronted Tuble about the argument but Tuble reportedly provoked Alferez by asking the latter sarcastically whether the tanod was licensed to carry a firearm. 

Right then and there, Alferez pulled out his handgun shot Tuble twice, hitting him on the head and stomach.

Prosecutors sent Alferez a subpoena to formally answer the charges against him but the same was not received, as Alferez reportedly was no longer living in the same address.

Apart from Alferez’ failure to answer the murder charges, prosecutors also said treachery was evident in the commission of the crime. — Jasmin R. Uy/JMO (THE FREEMAN)