Patient kills his doctor then commits suicide

CEBU CITY, Philippines – A former seaman gunned down his doctor before turning the gun on himself in a clinic at the Sacred Heart Hospital here yesterday morning, police said.           

The suspect, Wilfredo Sabonsolin, 72, was supposed to have his regular checkup when he shot Dr. Cris Cecil Chan Abbu, 56, in the right arm and chest.

Sabonsolin, who had spinal cord injury, was on his wheelchair when he shot Abbu.

“The doctor even greeted Sabonsolin who told him that he sill could not walk. Then the doctor told him he had to undergo therapy but Sabonsolin then shot the doctor,” Sabonsolin’s helper Renel Tanilon said.

Tanilon then asked Sabonsolin why he fired at Abbu but Sabonsolin immediately shot himself in his left temple without answering Tanilon.

Police said Sabonsolin kept the gun, a .38-caliber revolver, in a small sling bag which security guards failed to notice.

Sabonsolin suffered a spinal column disorder and underwent an operation by Abbu last December. He reportedly underwent three other operations.

“We cannot discount that depression was the cause of the shooting. The doctor told the suspect that he might not work again but we are still investigating this to determine the real motive,” said Chief Inspector Wildemar Tiu, Fuente police station chief. – Ria Mae Booc/Freeman