Jealous widower kills girlfriend, self

CEBU, Philippines - Jealousy pushed a widower to kill his girlfriend early morning yesterday at corner Tupas and Tres de Abril streets, Barangay San Nicolas, Cebu City. 

Roberto Gingoyon, 57, of Barangay Kang-Actol, Dumanjug town, shot Marlyn Calago, 39, of Barangay Pawa of the same town. 

Cebu City Police Office homicide investigator PO2 Leroy Baguio said Calago, who sells coconuts and banana leaves, was attending to her merchandise when Gingoyon suddenly shot her. 

Gingoyon and Calago arrived together. Gingoyon, who seemed drunk, had just finished unloading leaves and approached the victim and said “peste kang bayhana ka, puerte na nimong lataa.”

Gingoyon then pulled out a .45 cal. pistol and shot the victim repeatedly until he ran out of bullets.

Bystanders and merchants in the area scampered to safety when they heard the shots, said Renalda Allanic, 30, a neighbor of the victim.  

After Gingoyon ran out of ammunition, he loaded another magazine into the gun and shot himself in the head, Baguio said.

Elements of the San Nicolas Police Station and the Emergency Rescue Unit Foundation responded to the alarm and found both of them already dead. 

Eight empty shells, a slug, an empty magazine and a note written by Gingoyon were recovered at the scene. 

In his note Gingoyon apologized to his children and family for his wrongdoings, Baguio said.

Two of Gingoyon’s daughters said that they saw their father writing the letter a few days ago but they did not expect that it was a suicide note.

Gingoyon was reportedly jealous that Calago had another boyfriend other than him.

Meanwhile, police have arrested a man they said is responsible for the robbery of three Italians in Barangay Capitol Site last Thursday.

Cebu City Intelligence Chief Romeo Santander said that James Balien, 25, of Laguerta, Lahug, Cebu City, was apprehended near his house 8:30 a.m. yesterday. A tip from an asset led to the arrest of the suspect.

Balien was positively identified by the victims Michele Acanfora, 72; Franco Palatacci, 62; and Michele Loungo, 67. Loungo was shot in both legs after he resisted. Aside from this case, the suspect is also tagged in a series of robbery and shooting incidents in the city in past years. 

However, Balien denied the allegations, adding that he was only picked up by the police.

“Wala gyud nay kamatuoran ilang gipasangil nako,” he said.

Though an ex-convict, he assured that he did not revert to his old ways. He said he was imprisoned for theft in 2000 and was released in 2005.

“Wala na gyud ko mibalik og panulis kay naa na baya ko’y pamilya,” he said. 

Cebu City Police Office director Melvin Ramon Buenafe said Balien is a member of a robbery gang with four members.

“If they would not be stopped, their group could develop into a bigger group,” the director said. 

Around P300,000 worth of property were stolen from the three Italians who are here in Cebu City for the Sinulog festivities. (FREEMAN)