Cop shoots self dead, in front of wife, teachers in seminar

TACLOBAN CITY, Philippines – Police authorities said “jealousy” may be the motive of the suicide of Police Officer 2 Ariel Jacobe, who shot himself dead in full view of his wife and 61 other co-teachers attending a Literacy and Numeral seminar-workshop at a restaurant in this city.

Senior Inspector Rey Octavio, chief of the city’s Abucay Police sub-station, told reporters Jacobe, at 3 pm. Sunday, barged into the second floor of the establishment armed with a .45-caliber gun.

Jacobe, reportedly under the influence of liquor, first sat on an empty seat at the corner of the room and then, seconds later, a single gunshot broke out, causing the seminar participants to scamper to different areas of the building.

Shortly after, Jacobe was seen lying in a pool of blood on the floor, caused from a gunshot wound on his right head. He was then rushed to the Eastern Visayas Regional Medical Center where physicians declared him dead on arrival.

Octavio, in a press conference later on, said jealousy could be the most possible motive of Jacobe’s suicide, “based on the narration of the victim’s wife, who said they had been mired in marital trouble. The police however is still investigating this.”

Before his death, Jacobe was assigned to the Police Regional Office-8’s Service Holding Group.

Gina Hermosora, elder sister of the victim, on the other hand said they have no knowledge of the family problem that Mrs. Jacobe revealed to the investigators.

"We are totally blind about this tragedy and we want a thorough investigation of the police" she added.