By CESAR JOLITO III
A former village watchman was shot dead outside a store in Bacolod City’s Barangay 22 on Friday evening, March 13, leading to the arrest of three persons of interest, one of whom later admitted to the crime.
Ruben Altamira, a resident of Purok Gahiliugyon in the city’s Barangay 23, was having alcoholic drinks at a variety store on the corner of Rizal and Hilado Streets, Police Station 1 chief Police Captain Efren Legada said.
Altamira worked as a driver for a textile business and was also reported to be a former barangay tanod.
Legada said two masked men on a motorcycle arrived and bought items from the same store.
Initial investigation showed that the victim and the suspects reportedly had a brief conversation before the shooting occurred.
The gunman was about five meters away when he fired at the victim.
Authorities recovered six empty shells from an undetermined firearm at the crime scene.
The suspects allegedly placed the firearm inside a sack before fleeing the area.
Escape
Two witnesses have so far come forward, while investigators are also reviewing closed-circuit television footage in the area to further aid the probe.
Following the incident, police conducted a hot pursuit operation that led to the arrest of three persons of interest at a boarding house.
Legada confirmed that one of the suspects, identified only as “Jeremy,” admitted responsibility for the killing.
The suspect and his brother, identified as “Junjun,” reportedly attempted to escape during the police operation despite authorities already identifying themselves.
A relative of the suspects was also taken into custody after police discovered that the firearms were allegedly being kept in his room.
Recovered from the boarding house were a KG-9 firearm loaded with 9mm ammunition and a .38 caliber revolver, believed to have been used in the crime.
Investigators are looking into a long-standing personal dispute as the possible motive for the killing, with the suspect claiming that he and the victim had previous misunderstandings.
Altamira’s family has expressed their intent to file charges against the suspects as the investigation continues./CJ, WDJ