Retired cop shoots neighbor

CEBU, Philippines - A retired policeman shot his neighbor to death yesterday morning in Barangay Kalunasan, Cebu City.

SPO2 Vivencio Elorde, who just retired last year, claimed self-defense saying 49-year-old Panfilo Monteciano tried to stab him with a knife at around 7 a.m. yesterday in Unit 3-A, Oppra.

PO3 Ruth Violango of the Homicide Section said that based on the account of Rafael Monteciano, the fatality’s son, his father was about to go home when Elorde shot him several times.

Rafael said he knew his father and Elorde had a quarrel but he did not know what the issue was.

Elorde was last assigned at the Regional Personnel and Human Resource Division in Police Regional Office 7. He retired in June last year.

Violango said Elorde told her that Panfilo attacked him with a 12-inch long hunting knife, which prompted him to shoot.

Violango said Elorde was treated at the Cebu City Medical Center after his arrest because of wounds on his stomach.

According to Elorde, he reprimanded Panfilo for creating noise among the neighborhood by throwing off a chair outside the house. Panfilo was reportedly drunk after having a drinking session the previous day that lasted until midnight.

Violango said Elorde then went inside his house, which is about a meter away from the Panfilo’s. Elorde went out again later to buy snacks for his kids for school when he noticed Panfilo going after him, armed with the knife.

Panfilo tried to stab him so he pulled out a gun from his waist, a personal Norinco caliber .45, but he lost grip of the gun. He managed to get the gun back and shot the victim five times. Monteciano was hit thrice on his chest and died on the spot.

Elorde went inside his house and later surrendered to the policemen from the Guadalupe Police Station. He was then turned over to the Homicide Section.

Police recovered four empty shells and two slugs of the same caliber from the crime scene.

Violango said Elorde, who has lived in the place for three years now, used to reprimand Panfilo whenever drunk.

“Nya dili na man daw pa-tuo niya sukad nga ming-retire na siya. Badlungon man daw ning biktima kung mahubog,” Violango said.

The police officer added that according to Guadalupe’s barangay captain, Nonilon Monares, Panfilo has a previous record in their barangay for stabbing someone.

Violango said they requested for a gun powder residue test for Elorde and a ballistic test for his gun which is now in the Crime Laboratory 7.

A charge either for murder or homicide will be filed against the suspect today, Violango said. – (FREEMAN)