Man kills 1, hurts 4 in wife’s family

CEBU, Philippines - A man was killed while four others are in critical condition after a man left by his wife went berserk and shot members of his wife’s family inside their house 11 p.m. last Thursday in Sitio Hika, Barangay Poblacion, Compostela town.

The victims were asleep when the suspect, Antonio Ramon, 45, barged into the house and shot the victims several times.

Ozram Caesar, 46, died on the spot due to three gunshot wounds to the chest.

Apolonia Rabillas, 71, the mother of the suspect’s wife, was rushed to Chong Hua Hospital in Cebu City due to a gunshot wound to the head.

The other victims were identified as Lucilla Caesar, 43, who was shot in the abdomen; Romeo Rabillas Jr., 32, injured in the nape; and Yelda Mae Caesar, 18, who was also hit in the abdomen. They were all rushed to the Chong Hua Hospital.

The suspect’s wife, Annabelle Ramon, was at an adjacent house when the incident happened.

Antonio was said to be drunk when he arrived at the house, looking for Annabelle. Annabelle reportedly left Antonio due to his drinking habit and attitude problem.

The couple, who has a seven-year-old daughter, had been living separately for six months already. Antonio currently lives in the house they used to cohabit while Annabelle lives with her family just nearby.

PO2 Arni Goc-ong, the first responder to the scene, said Annabelle and Antonio were able to talk that night, but their conversation later turned into an argument.

“Diha ra sila sa gawas gaabot unya nagkabangi kay daan na man ni sila wala’y klarong tinagdan,” Goc-ong said in a phone interview.

Antonio reportedly left and returned armed with a .45 pistol with a fully-loaded magazine. He then looked for Annabelle at his in-laws’ house.

Antonio reportedly got mad when nobody opened the gate and he entered the property and destroyed the door of the house.

Goc-ong said it was Apolonia who talked to Antonio but the latter suddenly shot the old woman in the head before he started shooting the others. Antonio tried to escape from the scene but was arrested by the police.

Goc-ong said that Antonio is a seaman who comes home every three months.

“Munaog lang kuno siya kay mingawon siya sa iyang pamilya,” he said.

However, their misunderstanding started when Antonio received reports that Annabelle was having an illicit affair with another man while he was away. The reports even led Antonio to beat Annabelle.

“Amo na siyang gi-advisan nga filan ug kaso pero maluoy kay bana lagi niya pero daghan na na ug complaint ngari sa among opisina,” Goc-ong said.

Police are now preparing charges for two counts of murder, three counts of frustrated murder and violation of Republic Act 10591 or the Comprehensive Firearms and Ammunition Regulation Act against the suspect. —/BRP (FREEMAN)