Seaman goes amuck: 4 dead, 4 hurt

MANILA, Philippines - A seaman killed his partner after accusing her of having an affair, then went on a shooting rampage in which he shot dead three other persons and wounded four more in Caloocan City Sunday night.

Police said Rolando Rapit, 33, was drunk when he confronted and shot his partner of three years, Eden dela Cruz, 33, in their house in Tierra Nova Royale Subdivision in Barangay 171, Camarin, at around 10:15 p.m. The couple had no children.

“The woman died from a bullet wound in the head that went through her face. The suspect claimed he shot his partner because she had a relationship with another man,” Chief Inspector Ronald Perilla, Caloocan City Police North Extension Office investigation head, told The STAR.

Perilla said Rapit ran out of the house, saw his neighbor holding a birthday party and started shooting at the partygoers. Celebrant Arnold Dizon, 32, was killed, as well as visitors Elizabeth Templonuevo, 48; and her son Benjamin, 17.

Four other partygoers – Archie Artugi, 23; Julius Bernardo, 19; Maria Dina Lagonero, 23, and Jover Ricana, 15 – were listed in “serious” condition at the East Avenue Medical Center due to gunshot wounds in the body.

A team led by Superintendent Carlito Dimalanta and Perilla, with subdivision security personnel, arrested Rapit at the main gate of the subdivision a few minutes after the shooting. Perilla said Rapit yielded an unlicensed 9mm pistol and three empty magazines.

Senior Superintendent Rimas Calixto, city police chief, said they will charge Rapit with four counts of murder, four counts of frustrated murder and illegal possession of firearm before the Caloocan City prosecutor’s office.