Barili shooting suspects arrested

CEBU, Philippines - The brother who allegedly shot dead his older brother due to a land dispute and his reported accomplice were arrested by the Barili police Thursday in Sitio Katap, Barangay Balao, Barili.

Now detained at the Barili police stockade is Dioscoro Tao, 50 and his nephew Lucio Tao, 22. The two were arrested a day after they committed the crime last Wednesday.

SPO2 Saldy Orillo of the Barili Police Station said land dispute was indeed the motive of the killing.

 Widower, Claro Tao, 56, succumbed to a gunshot wound in his right armpit after he was allegedly shot by Dioscoro last Wednesday evening. He was found by his son Constancio lying lifeless on the ground in front of their house.

Barangay tanods saw Lucio together with his uncle, Dioscoro hurriedly fleeing on foot.

Orillo said that Claro pawned the lot he was cultivating to Lazaro, his brother and father of Lucio. But when he decided to take it back, Dioscoro allegedly refused.

“Basin nindot ug abot ang yuta maong dili na nila ibalik,” Orillo said. (Maybe harvest is good so he refused to return it.)

Orillo added that they momentarily left the place after the crime and returned a day after. The police received information on the presence of the suspects so they immediately conducted an operation and arrested them.

Police failed to recover the firearm used by Dioscoro.

The suspects are now detained while murder charges will be filed against them.  (FREEMAN)