CEBU, Philippines - Police are considering jealousy as the possible motive behind the death of 22-year-old John Ronli Calizar, who was shot dead while he was sleeping inside an apartment in Sitio Calmar, Barangay Lawaan 1, Talisay City around 3 a.m. yesterday.
John Ronli Calizar, a resident of Mandaue City, was shot several times in the head and in different parts of his body allegedly by Jessie Largo, 25, a resident of Barangay Dumlog, Talisay City, and another man.
Police Officer 3 Junyl Ater of Talisay police said that the victim was sleeping in the apartment rented by his coworker, Katherine Cabungcag, when the two suspects barged into the room and started shooting at Calizar.
Cabungcag is the sole witness to the incident and identified Largo as one of the perpetrators.
“Kalit niabot si Jessie, unya gibuak ang bintana, dayon gisikaran ang pultahan mao ako giablihan, didto gipusil dayon si Onli ug ang kuyog niini nitabang usab og pusil,” Cabungcag said.
According to police, Largo is Cabungcag's ex-boyfriend and it has been four months since the two had broken up.
Police believe that Largo has yet to accept the breakup and that he committed the crime when he learned Calizar was staying at Cabungcag’s apartment.
“Wala gyud ko gadahum kay niingon naman siya dili na siya magsamok, pero kagahapon sa wala pa niya pusila si Onli, giingan ko niya ‘Mao ni imo gipuli nako?,’ dayong pusil,” said Cabungcag.
Police are also verifying reports that Largo is involved in illegal drugs.
Eight empty shells from a 9mm caliber firearm, five empty shells from a .45 caliber pistol, and four deformed slugs of undetermined caliber were recovered from the crime scene.
Calizar, who works with Cabungcag in a fast food joint in Basak San Nicolas, is the son of Ferliza Calizar-Contratista, an information officer of the Philippine Information Agency Cebu.
Contratista was shocked when she learned through a message sent by her son’s boss on social media about what happened to her son.
Genesis Contratista, Calizar’s half-brother, said his mother told him to be the one to communicate with the manager and police regarding the death of his brother.
“Ako nala’y gitahasan sa ako mom, kay wala naman siya kahibalo unsay buhaton ug kung tinuod ba gyud nahitabo sa ako kuya kay nagdahum gyud mi nga dili lang unta tinuod,” said Genesis.
“ Walay laban ako maguwang kay gipatay man sa ex-boyfriend sa babaye nga adik ug kuyog niini samtang kini natulog,” he added.
He said Calizar left home because he had a fight with his live-in partner with whom he has two children, adding that he cannot confirm his brother’s relationship with Cabungcag.
“Ambot unsa ni siya sa ako maguwang si Cabungcag, kay didto man daw ni nakatulog sa ilaha human gaaway sa asawa niini nga aduna silay duha ka anak,” said Genesis.
“Didto siya sa ako boarding house kay gipalayas man siya sa iya kapuyo ug katulo pa ni siya kahigayon naka anha sa akong gipuy-an,” confirmed Cabungcag.
According to Cabungcag, she broke up with Largo three weeks ago because of his bad reputation.
“Before, nakatulog sab na sa ako boarding house si Largo, kinsa wala moangkon nga minyo pero naa daw siya’y anak. Ako siya gistorya tulo ka semana ang nilabay nga dili nako niya kay tungod sa bati nga batasan niini ug adik pa gyud,” said Cabungcag.
The name Jessie Largo is also implicated in the death of a nursing student in Talisay City back in 2009, although police are still verifying if this is the same person as Calizar’s shooter.
Largo and the other unidentified suspect remain at large while further investigation is ongoing.
Genesis said he hopes that the suspect will be arrested and justice will be served.
“Daghan kaayo samad pinusilan ako maguwang, ug manghinaut ko nga madakpan na ang mga suspetsado aron makabaton ug hustisya ang kamatayon niini,” he said. —/JBB (FREEMAN)