By Dominique Gabriel G. Bañaga

A Colegio San Nicolas de Tolentino-Recoletos maintenance staff member was shot dead by school security yesterday morning at the Talisay City school.

Police identified the fatality as Rey Bico, a resident of Hacienda Manauol in the city’s Barangay Matab-ang.

In an interview with the suspect, identified as Harold Tañongon, he reportedly engaged in a heated argument with the victim prior to the incident last Sunday; however, the conflict flared up yesterday morning following the school’s flag ceremony.

Tañongon claimed Bico struck him in the neck, which resulted in a fistfight.

The assailant admitted to pulling out his .38 caliber service revolver and shooting Bico twice in the chest.

The victim was immediately brought to a hospital in Bacolod City, where he was declared dead on arrival by hospital staff.

The suspect, meanwhile, surrendered to police following the incident.

All students were reported safe as they were already back in their classrooms when the shooting occurred.

Talisay City police are now preparing to file criminal charges against Tañongon./DGB, WDJ