Man shot dead by neighbor

CEBU, Philippines - A man was allegedly shot dead by his neighbor over their quarrel about a fighting cock in Barangay Paculob, Dumanjug town, last Sunday evening.

Police said before Romulo Talotalo, 40, died, he reportedly told his daughter it was their neighbor Suzimo “Susing” Pace who shot him.

Pace was arrested 7 a.m. yesterday.

Police investigators said Romulo was walking home from the Barangay Cogon gymnasium where he watched a basketball league game last Sunday evening when he was tailed by Pace.

Police said Romulo was near his house when Pace shot him thrice, hitting him in the left portion of the torso, right arm and pelvis.

 His daughter twenty-year-old Marlyn, rushed to his side and later narrated to the police her father’s last words: “day gipusil ko ‘day ni Susing,” before he died.

Felisa Talotalo, the victim’s wife, said two weeks ago Pace brought a fighting cock to their house and invited Romulo to help him cook and eat it.

“Masakiton man kuno to’ng manoka adto gitiwasan sa amo,” Felisa told The FREEMAN over a phone interview.

Dumanjug police investigator SPO3 Felipe Vibar said a day after the cock had been cooked and eaten, one of their neighbors started asking around for his missing fighting cock and approached Pace.

Vibar said Pace allegedly pointed to Romulo as the one who stole his fighting cock. This started the grudge between the two.

Vibar added that this was not the first time that Romulo and Pace got into a quarrel, but their previous conflict was settled at the barangay.

Charges are now being prepared against Pace.

Meanwhile, a man earlier convicted of double murder was shot dead by an unknown assailant while drinking liquor in his neighbor’s house in Malabuyoc town, Cebu, last Sunday night.

Moises Baylosis Pano, 60, a resident of Barangay Cerdeño, Malabuyoc, Cebu, had been released from jail for about a year now.

Police said around 8 p.m. while the victim drinking with friends inside the house of his neighbor Victor Allanic, the assailant shot the victim through a hole in the bamboo wall hitting the victim in the back and killing him.

Victor and his wife Jocelyn quickly hid with their children as the assailant escaped.

Police said the likely motive of the crime is a personal grudge. Neighbors said the victim was known to be a troublemaker in the area and had many unsettled conflicts.

Police also said the incident appears to have been planned since the assailant knew that the victim was back in town. Pano had been staying in Panganiban St., Cebu City, after his release.

The police said they are having a hard time identifying the assailant because the residents are not cooperating. Aside from that, the place was very dark during the incident since electricity is still not available in the area. (FREEMAN)