A 48-year-old man was shot and killed by his neighbor near a hardware store along a national highway in Inabanga town in broad daylight and in front of multiple witnesses, police said.
Senior Master Sgt. Ricky Remata, Inabanga Police Station investigator, said the fatal shooting stemmed from a longstanding rift between the fatality, Guadalupe Dela Cruz and the Anuta brothers, identified as Hamier Anuta, 35, the alleged shooter, and Naspier, 41.
According to Remata, Naspier and Dela Cruz were engaged in a fistfight when Hamier shot the latter using a .45 caliber pistol, hitting the right side of his rib cage, in Barangay Badjang at around 3 p.m. on Saturday last week.
“Daghan mga witness, wa pud ni sila nagtabun sa ilang nawong. Permirong nahitabo nagaway ni si Naspier ug si Dela Cruz unya ni duol si Hamier unya mi gamit na og armas,” said Remata. “Mura’g natuok ni Naspier ni si Guadalupe mao tong gudul-itan siya’g pusil ni [Hamier] sa tuong bahin.”
Naspier and Hamier, on board separate motorcycles, immediately fled the area following the shooting incident.
Meanwhile, Dela Cruz died while he was being rushed to a hospital in Tagbilaran City for emergency medical treatment.
Remata noted that the Anuta brothers and Dela Cruz were in a feud caused by an earlier altercation which stemmed from a previously unpaid debt.
He said that day prior to the fatal shooting, Hamier reported before the Inabanga Police Station that Dela Cruz attempted to stab him with a knife.
“Sa niaging adlaw kini si Hamier nagpablotter na diri na gi aksyonan kuno siya og dunggab aning Guadalupe mura’g naa na silay personal na daan na misunderstanding,” said Remata.
Police then referred the issued to barangay officials but the incident had transpired before authorities could intervene.
According to Remata, Hamier surrendered to authorities in Sagbayan town at past 1 a.m. on Sunday, several hours after the shooting incident.
Hamier had with him the alleged murder weapon which was turned over to the police.
Authorities were set to file a murder charge against him on Monday, while Naspier who could also face a separate complaint remained at large. (A. Doydora)