Land dispute led to shooting

CEBU, Philippines - An argument over a problem on a piece of land led to a shooting in Barangay Paknaan, Mandaue City Saturday evening.

Cyrus Alfafara, 33, was shot three times at around 8:30 pm by his own neighbor, Willy Canen, 38, in their neighborhood at Zone Gabi.

Police said Alfafara arrived early that night already drunk. The victim saw Canen together with other neighbors having a drinking session.

Intoxicated, the victim allegedly confronted Canen, who was also drunk, over an old land dispute that caused Canen to get irked.

Minutes later, neighbors heard three gunshots and found Alfafara’s body lying on his own blood.

The victim was rushed to Cortes General Hospital but he was reportedly transferred to Chong Hua Hospital due to the severity of his wounds.   

A concerned citizen called the Mandaue City Police Station 3 which immediately responded to the crime scene.

However, the responding team failed to apprehend Canen after the suspect fled immediately after the shooting.

Investigators believed the assailant used a .38 caliber revolver in shooting Alfafara after they failed to recover bullet shells at the scene.

Canen, according to neighbors, held a grudge at the Alfafaras especially with the victim after the latter opposed the sale of his father’s lot to Canen’s father. – THE FREEMAN