Guard shoots German dead

CEBU, Philippines - A German national was shot dead after being mistaken for a robber by the security guard of Sola Homes Subdivision in Barangay Guiwang, Alcoy town, early morning yesterday.

Hans Jurgen Hesse, 60, was wearing a dark jacket with a hood and was running away from the back of the subdivision’s retirement village office when he ran into security guards Jerome Niere, 38, of El Pardo, Boljoon town, and Jerry Carulasan.

Thinking Hesse was a robber, Niere fired at Hesse thrice, hitting the victim in the chest and forehead.

Hesse was rushed to the Dr. Ildefonso Alcan-tara Memorial Hospital in Dalaguete town but was declared dead on arrival by the doctor.

Niere ran off after the incident, leaving his service 9mm Armscor pistol behind while Carulasan surrendered and turned over his service firearm, also a 9mm pistol, to the police. Niere and Carulasan work for CQB security agency.

Inspector Crisanto Abella, Alcoy police chief, said that Carulasan was patrolling inside the subdivision when he noticed a spark coming from the back of the office prompting him to call Niere. Niere was assigned to the main gate at that time.

“Nagpakuyog siya (Carulasan) kay kita kuno siya og tao nga nagsul-ob og itom, unya dunay spark,” Abella said.

While heading to the area, security guards ran into Hesse when they turned a corner. Niere fired thrice but only two bullets hit the victim.

Abella said that the slug that hit Hesse’s chest exited from his back while the slug that hit his forehead exited from his jaw.

Niere then fled, leaving his pistol behind, while Carulasan surrendered to the police.

Recovered from the scene were three slugs, one bullet and three empty 9mm shells.

The pistol reportedly used by Niere as well as the recovered evidence will be submitted to the Philippine National Police Crime Laboratory-7 in Camp Sotero Cabahug, Cebu City for ballistics examination.

Abella said they will also submit the pistol of Carulasan for the same examination to determine where or not he fired his gun. Carulasan has also agreed to submit himself to a paraffin test to clear his name.

“Willing man pud siya magpa-paraffin test kay iya laging gitumbok nga si Jerome ang nakapabuto,” Abella said, adding that they will not consider Carulasan as under arrest but only as temporarily under custody.

Police will be filing murder charges against Niere.

Explosives

Abella said they found five improvised explosives, specifically Molotov cocktails consisting of a bottle filled with crude oil and sealed by a rolled cloth wick, at the back of the subdivision’s office.

“Duna gani mi nakit-an sa scene nga partially burned nga grass nga mura’g mao to ang giingong nila nga spark,” Abella said.

Police have yet to determine what the improvised explosives were used for and why Hesse created them.

“Nakugang gyud mi unya mao pud na ang i-apil namo sa among imbestigasyon nganong naabot siya ngadto,” the police chief said, stating that Hesse’s unit was about 25 to 30 meters away from the scene.

Hesse lived in his house with his wife Anja Christa Barbara Hesse, also German. They arrived last September as tourists.

“Sa pagkakaron dili pa namo ma-istorya ang asawa kay traumatized pa sa hitabo amo lang sigurong balikon,” Abella said.

The body of the victim now lies at the Rolling Hills funeral services in Barangay Banilad, Mandaue City.

Last Black Saturday a British national was also gunned down by his security guard in Daanbantayan town due to a heated argument.

Anthony Gilchrist, 34, died of multiple gunshot wounds to the head after he was shot by Melchor Alciso Jr., 42.

The incident happened inside the Fish Buddies Dive Shop Resort owned by the victim in Malapascua Island. Alciso admitted to the crime saying that he could no longer take how Gilchrist nagged at him almost every day for unknown reasons.

A charge for murder has been filed against him before the Cebu Provincial Prosecutor’s Office.  —/BRP (FREEMAN)