Suspects angry after being fired: Head guard killed

CEBU, Philippines - A head security officer detailed in a subdivision died after two workers, who were told they were already fired while receiving their last pay Saturday afternoon, shot him several times in Barangay Tulay, Minglanilla town.

Charlie Muradas of Invincible Armada Security Agency lay dead in the club house of Fonte di Versailes Subdivision when responding policemen, who were tipped off of the incident, arrived.

The police identified the suspects as brothers Edcel and Elmer Franza, both employees of Paramount Venture Inc., the subdivision developer.

Police Officer 2 Vincent Aliñabo, Minglanilla Police Station desk officer, said in a telephone interview that past 5 p.m. Saturday, they received a call from a concerned citizen on a shooting incident inside Fonte di Versailes.

Responding policemen found Muradas with multiple gunshot wounds so they rushed him to the Minglanilla District Hospital, where he was declared dead on arrival.

Initial investigation showed that prior to the killing, Rhea Rendon, 41, Human Resources Officer of Paramount Ventures Inc., was distributing the salary of employees at the club house.

Rendon was accompanied by security guard Jose Batad, who stood a few meters away from her.

The suspects were among those who queued to get their salary. 

When it was their turn to receive their salary, both of them were told that that day was their last day of work.

That angered Edzel and Elmer, who started an argument. Seeing the commotion, Muradas tried to pacify the brothers, who allegedly refused to listen.

“Naingnan nga last day na lang gahapon (Saturday) naglalis na to ang taga opisina ug ang suspek. Ni-interrupt siya (Muradas) kay siya man guy headguard,” Aliñabo said.

Muradas was allegedly still talking when the suspects pulled out hand guns and shot him several times before walking away as if nothing happened. Batad, allegedly did not do anything to stop them.

Muradas suffered three gunshot wounds in the back of the head and four in his body.

“Ang gwardiya (Batad) na-shock wa ka-react, ‘nya ang mga suspek naglakaw ra,” Aliñabo said.

Minglanilla police recovered at the scene 11 bullet shells of a .45 pistol.

Aliñabo said Chief Inspector Franco Rodolf Oriol, Minglanilla police chief, had ordered them to conduct a manhunt against Edzel and Elmer. Authorities went to the suspects’ house in Tulay but they were no longer there.

Asked why the suspects managed to sneak in guns inside the subdivision, Aliñabo said the guards may have relaxed security measures when it comes to the workers or to familiar faces.

“Ilang security diha kung empleyado dili na kaayo i-check, kung trabahante lenient ra pod sila,” he said. — / RHM (FREEMAN)