DAR lawyer gunned down

CATARMAN, Northern Samar — Liquor knows no reason.

This was the grim truth that family and friends of lawyer Reynaldo Alcera faced the other day after he was fatally shot by three drunken men inside a videoke bar in Barangay Molave Poblacion here.

Alcera, 40, worked for the Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR) provincial office here and had his own law office.

PO3 Russel Calubag, officer on case, said witnesses saw Alcera and four colleagues, two of them identified only as lawyers Rosadiño and Francisco, enter the King X Videoke Bar at about 7 p.m.

An hour later, suspects Roy Rosela, Arnold Aliposa and Warding Diaz arrived reportedly already reeking with liquor. The three sat near Alcera’s table and ordered beer.

Two waitresses told police Aliposa left the bar at about 8:30 p.m. and returned a few minutes later carrying a bag.

Shortly after, however, witnesses saw Aliposa hurl a beer bottle at Alcera’s head for no apparent reason. Diaz and Rosela also followed suit.

Alcera’s companions immediately sought cover to avoid being hit.

Rosela then allegedly drew a gun and shot the victim seven times, Calubag said.

Alcera was rushed to a hospital but was declared dead at 10 p.m. by attending physicians.

Responding policemen led by Calubag, SPO4 Miguel Tarce and SPO2 Dimaano were able to collar Aliposa near the house of lawyer Voltaire Legazpi, reportedly one of the consultants of Gov. Raul Daza.

Legazpi admitted that the three suspects were his personal bodyguards. He said he gave them several bottles of Emperador brandy for a drinking session that lasted until about 6 p.m., after which he told them to go home.

He promised to help the police in locating and apprehending the two other suspects.

Superintendent Alberto Menador, Northern Samar police director, said he has formed Task Force Alcera to go after Diaz and Rosela.

Lawyer Anselmo Alvañez IV, president of the Integrated Bar of the Philippines’ Northern Samar chapter, condemned the killing of Alcera who had practiced law for just more than a year after passing the Bar.

Rona Lavin-Alcera, the victim’s wife and a professor of the University of Eastern Philippines, said she asked her husband at about 5 p.m. whether he wanted to fetch her from his law office.

She said she decided to go home alone after he informed her that he might go home late.