Ex-jail officer 'shot' by son dead

CEBU, Philippines - A retired jail officer was shot dead in his house yesterday noon allegedly by his own son who came to ask for money.

Chief Insp. Simplico Niñeza, 65, a retired officer of the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology 7 was found by police in his room with gunshot wounds in his chest, shoulder and right eye.

Police collared Glenn Niñeza, 37, about 15 minutes after the shooting on Gorordo Avenue, Barangay Lahug.

Investigation showed that the retired officer was sitting on his bed inside his room at the second floor of the house when he was shot several times.

Police found seven empty shells and two slugs apparently from a caliber .45 pistol in the crime scene.

The gun bursts were heard by his neighbors.

Homicide Section Chief Jul Mohammad Jamiri said a witness saw Glenn leaving the house right after the shooting.

The witness also said they heard Glenn asking for money from his father prior to the incident.

It was learned that Simplicio and Glenn always figured in a verbal tussle over his son’s illegal drug use.

Simplicio had no known enemy except for his son, the neighbors claimed.

“Kapila na daw na mahiubos iyang ginikanan kay di nila gusto na mugamit siya og drogas but magsige man siya ug demand og kwarta ipalit og drugs unya dili hatagan,” Jamiri said. (His parents wanted him to stop using drugs. He always asks for money to buy drugs but his parents will not give him.)

Jamiri said, Glenn admitted that he is a drug user.

 “Ang iyang reaksyon dili man common sa isa ka-anak na nawad-an og ginikanan, reaskyon man sa usa ka-suspek,” Jamiri told reporters after they arrested Glenn. (His reaction was not normal for a son who just lost his father. It’s the usual reaction of suspects).

But Glenn claimed that he only proceeded to the area after hearing that his father was shot dead.

But Jamiri said they will consider other possible angles in the investigation.

Aside from Glenn, Jamiri said they are considering another relative in their investigation.

The police are still gathering statements from witnesses.

Glenn, in a separate interview, denied killing his father.

He said he was in his girlfriend’s house on Cabantan St., Barrio Luz, since last Monday evening until the incident happened.

His girlfriend, Reci Daruca, also corroborated Glenn’s claim.

“Nakurat na lang ko na giaresto ko nila. Ako pa’y namatyan, ako pa’y giingon ani,” Glenn said. (I was shocked when they arrested me. I’m the one who lost a father.)

He said he is willing to undergo paraffin test to prove that he was not the one who shot his father.

Police were scheduled to submit him to the test yesterday afternoon.MBG (FREEMAN)