Cop mauls, shoots neighbor dead

CEBU, Philippines- A police officer assigned in Cebu City's Mabolo Police Station shot his neighbor dead yesterday morning in Sitio Kawot, Barangay Bankal, Lapu-Lapu City.

Police Officer 2 Franklin Bulaquia, 37, a resident of the same barangay, fired two shots at his neighbor Golgie Gestopa who was hit in the left portion of his body.

Initial investigation led by Police Officer 2 Joseph Cutanda of Lapu-Lapu City Police Office-Homicide Section revealed that Gestopa was having his breakfast with his brother Roello Donor around 9:30 in the morning when Bulaquia suddenly stormed their house.

Bulaquia then allegedly kicked the two brothers and left. Minutes later, the suspect once again barged inside the house and kicked Donor.

Donor's brother, Gestopa, tried to pacify the police officer but he was also allegedly kicked and punched by the suspect.

Moments later, the suspect took out his gun and aimed at Gestopa and shot him twice.

The suspect fled from the scene along with his firearm while Donor rushed his brother to the Mactan Doctors' Hospital.

Police said the victim passed away in the hospital around 1:30 p.m. yesterday, according to one of the victim's relatives interviewed through phone.

Unconfirmed reports tagged a long-standing feud between Bulaquia and the brothers as a possible motive of the incident.

Bulaquia was said to hear rumors that someone from the victim's family was to kill him, police said.

Yesterday afternoon, the officer already personally surrendered himself to Mabolo police where he works.

He was brought to Lapu-Lapu City Police Office and had declined to issue any statement.

Bulaquia was reported to have worked for Lapu-Lapu police and was transferred in Cebu City three years ago. — with Bryner L. Diaz