Cop, guard killed outside cockpit

BACOLOD CITY, Philippines — A policeman and a security guard died, while two others were injured in a shooting incident that arose after a heated argument outside a cockfighting arena in this city Monday night.

Police identified the fatalities as Police Officer 1 Carmelito Fajarito of the Regional Public Safety Battalion-6 assigned in Roxas City, Capiz; and Rick Villaluz, the security guard of the cockfighting arena.

Injured were Raul Lobredo, who was mauled, and an unidentified person, who sustained gunshot wounds on the leg.

Senior Inspector Ser Ulrick Gelera, chief of Bacolod City Police Station 8, said Fajarito and his companions just got out of the New Negros Coliseum cockfighting arena in SP Village at Barangay Pahanocoy at around 9 p.m. when they came across Villaluz at the gate.

The security guard asked the policeman, who was reportedly drunk, if they  want to ride a tricycle. Fajarito retorted, resulting in a heated argument between them and the shooting.

Gelera added they have yet to determine who fired first, and who among those involved fired the next shots.

Both Villaluz and Fajarito were rushed to South Bacolod General Hospital. The security guard died on the way to the hospital while the policeman died at 12:43 a.m. yesterday (Tuesday), Gelera said.

Villaluz succumbed to gunshot wounds on his chest and back, while Fajarito was shot on his right thigh and abdomen with a 12-gauge shotgun.

Chief Inspector Richard Fajarito, chief of Bacolod City Police Station 1, also responded to negotiate the surrender of the other Fajarito.

The station chief stressed although they  have the same family name, he is not related to Carmelito Fajarito.  He was the one who transported the other Fajarito to the hospital, he added.

Gelera said  that Fajarito’s other companions, Lobredo’s sister Jasmine Endo, and Ivan Mark By, were invited to the police station for investigation. —(FREEMAN)