US national faces murder charge over compatriot killed in Dalaguete

CEBU CITY, Philippines — A 72-year-old American national remains in police custody as of Monday, June 8, and faces a murder complaint after allegedly shooting and killing a fellow American inside a KTV bar in Dalaguete town, southern Cebu.

Police said the fatal shooting, which occurred last Saturday evening, June 6, appeared to have stemmed from a personal grudge, with the suspect allegedly blaming the victim for an earlier assault against him and accusing the latter of threatening both him and his wife.

READ: Cebu City shooting: Ex-convict killed in Brgy. Mambaling

Shot inside KTV bar

The shooting occurred around 8:15 p.m. inside Indera KTV Bar in Barangay Poblacion, Dalaguete.

Police identified the victim only by the alias “Ry,” an American national residing in Barangay Atabay, Alcoy, Cebu. The suspect, identified as alias “Sel,” 72, is also an American national and a resident of Barangay Balud, Dalaguete.

According to a report from Dalaguete Municipal Police Station, responding officers found the victim lying on the ground with a gunshot wound to the neck.

READ: Security guard shoots two; one dies in Cebu City

Personnel from the Municipal Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office brought the victim to Argao District Hospital, where he was later declared dead.

A witness told investigators that the suspect and his wife suddenly arrived at the establishment before the suspect drew a firearm and shot the victim.

Scene of the Crime Operatives recovered one spent .45-caliber shell casing, one slug of still undetermined caliber, and bloodstains from the scene.

Suspect voluntarily surrendered

Following the shooting, the suspect and his wife voluntarily went to the Dalaguete police station, where the American admitted his involvement in the incident.

His wife also turned over to authorities a Colt M1911A1 .45-caliber pistol with serial number 1327518 and a magazine loaded with four live rounds.

In an interview, Police Major Vincent Awit Zozobrado, chief of Dalaguete Municipal Police Station on Monday, said the firearm used in the shooting had no license.

The suspect is currently in police custody pending the filing of a murder complaint.

Personal grudge?

Zozobrado said investigators learned that the suspect had previously been punched by a Filipino whom he alleged had been hired by the victim.

The suspect later filed a complaint against the assailant, who was subsequently arrested after a warrant was issued.

According to the police chief, the suspect later learned that the victim had allegedly ordered the assault, causing resentment to build up.

Police also said the suspect claimed that the victim had threatened to kill both him and his wife.

“Mao gyud nay words nga iyahang gisulti. Ingon siya nga iyahang asawa na man gud iyahang gibaharan nga patyon kuno niya akoang asawa hasta ako, maong ako na lang giunhan,” Zozobrado said.

(Those were his words. He said his wife was threatened by the other man, that he would kill him and his wife, so the suspect said he simply got the other guy first.)

Authorities also obtained CCTV footage showing the suspect entering the KTV bar while carrying a firearm.

“Naay CCTV nga nisulod siya. Naa ang biktima sa sulod sa imnanan, unya nisulod ni siya gabitbit sa armas,” the police chief said.

(There is footage that shows his entrance. The victim was sitting in the bar and the suspect came in bringing the weapon.)

Murder complaint being prepared

Zozobrado said investigators have already secured witness statements and obtained CCTV footage from the establishment.

Police now wait for the victim’s death certificate and the affidavit of the suspect’s wife before formally filing the murder complaint in court.

Your subscription could not be saved. Please try again.

Your subscription has been successful.

Read Next

Disclaimer: The comments uploaded on this site do not necessarily represent or reflect the views of management and owner of Cebudailynews. We reserve the right to exclude comments that we deem to be inconsistent with our editorial standards.