5 dead, 3 wounded in La Union hacking, shooting incident

CAMP DIEGO SILANG, La Union, Philippines – Five persons were killed and three others were wounded when a father and his three sons went on a shooting and hacking rampage in Barangay Capas, Agoo, La Union on Tuesday. 

Reynaldo Refuerzo, 30, and his three-year-old daughter Mary Anne; Gil Cabilitazan, 28;  Zosimo Fontanilla, 30; and Gilberto Cecilio, 41, were pronounced dead on arrival in a hospital due to stab wounds in various parts of the body, according to Chief Inspector Artemio Infante, Agoo police chief. 

Rodel Refuerzo, Gilmar Cabilitazan and Benjie Tabunia remain confined at the Ilocos Training and Regional Medical Center.  

The suspects were identified as Demetrio Gayo and his sons Noel, Oscar and Ferdinand. 

Investigation showed that the victims were having a drinking spree along the road when the suspects arrived and Demetrio challenged them to a fight. Noel fired at the victims with a caliber .45 pistol while Oscar and Ferdinand took turns in stabbing them. 

La Union police chief Senior Superintendent Ramon Rafael said Ferdinand was arrested yesterday. A manhunt for the other suspects is underway.

Police are looking at family feud as the motive for the killings. – Jun Elias, Vic Alhambra, Raymund Catindig