Four ‘masked’ men rob, shoot octogenarian dead

CEBU, Philippines - An octogenarian believed to be a victim of robbery was found dead holding a bolo inside his house in Barangay Kanluhangon, Tabuelan town on Wednesday night.

The body of 85-year-old Jesus Montealto, which was covered in blood, was found by Pastor Ron Adlai Fajilan, 43, who was supposed to sleep at the victim’s house that night.

Senior Inspector Welther Grapa, chief of Tabuelan Police Station, said at least four persons wearing masks were reportedly seen by a witness on their way to the victim’s house prior to the incident.

The perpetrators allegedly knocked at the door of the victim’s house, but the latter did not open it and instead went to his room carrying a bolo.

The perpetrators, however, shot the victim from outside, hitting the victim in the neck that caused his instantaneous death.

“Lagmit misulod sa kwarto (ang biktima), gibato pa siya unya gipusil siya kay dili mangabli,” Grapa said.

The robbers then took a wooden ladder and destroyed the front window of the victim’s house.

They were able to gain entry and took the victim’s cash which was initially said to be P40,000.

 “Limpyo kaayo pagkatrabaho, tulis g’yud. Gipusil, pagkaigo, tumba, mikuha midagan sa pikas sa atubangan nga bintana. Pagka-abli, gisulod nila ang ladder nga kawayan, naabot ang kawayan sa sulod,” Grapa narrated.

Fajilan, a Seventh-Day Adventist pastor, went to the victim’s house that night to supposedly sleep.

The victim lived alone in his house but during Wednesdays, Fajilan sleeps in his house after conducting bible sharing in Barangay Kanluhangon, a barangay located in the boundaries of Borbon, Tabogon and San Remigio towns.

Clueless as to what happened to the victim, Fajilan called the victim’s name several times but was puzzled when he would not answer.

With this, he asked a neighbor to accompany him inside the house but they were both surprised to see the stuff inside the house already scattered.

They rushed to the old man’s room and saw him apparently dead, with a gunshot wound to the neck, prompting the pastor to call for help.

Grapa said they are now looking for the four masked men who robbed and killed the victim.

The victim, a farmer, allegedly owns parcels of land in the area and is considered to be well-off, said Grapa.  (FREEMAN)