Shootings amid gun ban: Friends killed in love rivalry

CEBU, Philippines — Two men who police said reportedly fell in love with the same woman ended up dead.

The two were identified as Vanzant Navales and Edwin Bacaltos. Edwin’s son was also caught in the crossfire and died.

Abellana Police Station chief Edward Sanchez said Vanzant, his brother Vincent, and three other friends went to Bacaltos’s house on J. Alcantara Street in Barangay Sambag 1 early morning yesterday, armed with a KG-9 firearm.

Vanzant reportedly figured in an argument with Bacaltos, which prompted the latter to pull his .9mm firearm out and shoot Vanzant several times.

Even after Vanzant fell to the ground, Bacaltos’ son, Michael Vincent, reportedly took Vanzant’s gun and finished the victim off.

Seeing what happened, Vincent stepped in and also shot Edwin several times. He also shot Edwin’s other son, Shaun, who only wanted to pacify the men.

"Mo-uwang ra unta to si Shaun pero naigo man hinuon siya (Shaun only wanted to stop the men but he was hit, unfortunately," Sanchez said.

Vincent and his three companions sped away on board a red Hyundai with plate number MP 4500.

Marlo Cortes of the Cebu City Emergency Medical Services said Vanzant was already dead when they responded to the crime scene.

Edwin and Shaun were brought to the Chong Hua Hospital but Shaun did not make it alive. Edwin, meanwhile, passed away after a few hours.

A resident near the area said everything happened fast.

“Sunod-sunod ang mga boto, paspas kayo (The shots were successive; it happened so fast)," the resident said.

Authorities are looking for other closed-circuit television cameras near the crime scene since footage from the CCTV camera at a pharmacy near the Bacaltos residence was not clear.

Love triangle

Sanchez said Vanzant and Shaun ended their five-year friendship after they found out they fell in love with the same woman.

Their feud reportedly lasted several years, which affected their families, which prompted the barangay to call them to a conference in an attempt to settle the dispute. The two did not appear.

"Suod kaayo na sila sa una kay pareha man kuno na sila og hilig kanang car racing," Sanchez said.

The Bacaltos family reportedly tried to make peace with the Navales family to no avail.

"Unfair kaayo sa part sa mga Bacaltos kay sila niadto nagdala og polis pero ang Navales wala gyud nagdala, nidiretso ra og adto sa ilaha," Sanchez said.

Vincent and his three companions will be charged with murder while Michael Vincent will be charged with homicide. He admitted the crime in defense of his family.

Ermita shooting

In an unrelated incident, a man identified only as “idol” was shot dead in Barangay Ermita, Cebu City last Sunday night.

PO3 Cristobal Geronimo said the victim appeared to have been waiting for someone on board his motorcycle at the corner of Magallanes Street and El Filibusterismo Street when he was shot.

The suspect reportedly approached him from behind and shot him once in the back and three times in the chest. The suspect then fled.

Medical responders found the victim already dead. No witness has surfaced as of yesterday.

"Wa gyud; tik-om ang mga tawo. Sa karon, wala pa ta'y nakuha nga witness. Ang ila lang nadunggan kay upat ka boto (No witness has surfaced. People in the area only heard four shots)," Geronimo said. — Imarie Jane D. Madarieta (FREEMAN)