Man shot while watching TV; friend's killer arrested inside bar

CEBU, Philippines - A 42-year-old man was rushed to the hospital after he was shot by neighbor while watching TV in his sister's house in Purok Lemonsito, Barangay Gun-ob, Lapu-lapu City last Sunday evening.

Sandy Familar is still under observation at a hospital after sustaining gunshot on the neck.

Police identified the suspect as Emiliano Prieto, 30, married, also a resident of said place, working as a PUJ driver.

Investigation revealed that moments prior to the incident, the victim was watching a TV show at the house of his sister Perlita Rosal when suddenly at around 7:30 p.m., the suspect appeared from behind and without any provocation shot the victim with an unknown caliber of firearm.

The suspect fled immediately while the victim was rushed to Vicente Sotto Memorial Medical Center for medical treatment.

About 20 minutes later, an identified man barged into the house of  Prieto and was looking for him, but Prieto's brother-in-law named Gaius Desucatan, 21, native of Daanbantayan town who was watching TV at that time, said Prieto was not home.

Upon learning that Prieto was not home, the man got mad, pulled out a .45 caliber and shot Desucatan hitting his left upper arm.

The said man fled immediately, while the victim was rushed to VSMMC for treatment.

Homicide investigator SPO1 Manolito Abellanosa believed that the two separate shooting incidents were related as the second one could be revenge to the first.

Abellanosa added that they are still conducting further investigation to determine the motive behind the two shootings.

In Mandaue City, meanwhile, a man who immediately fled after killing his friend last week fell into the hands of the police after he was spotted possessing an undetermined caliber of firearm tucked in his waist while inside a bar in Barangay Basak Sunday noon.

Melbert Huerte, 22, a resident of Barangay Pagsabungan, is currently detained at Basak Police Station after he was cornered by police. Seized from him were a .38 revolver with two live bullets and a packet of white crystalline powder inside his pocket believed to be shabu.

The police received a call from a concerned citizen regarding a man who was carrying a gun tucked in his waist inside a videoke bar. Authorities immediately responded and spotted the suspect who fit the description of the caller.

The suspect was then brought to the police station where during interrogation, it was later learned that he was involved in the killing of his friend identified as Alexander Yap, 39, also a resident of Barangay Pagsabungan.

Huerte was charged with a murder case before the city prosecutor's office even if he was at large after he stabbed Yap to death while walking home last February 5. Personal grudge was identifies as the motive.

Additional charges of illegal possession of firearm and ammunition and illegal drugs charges are being prepared against the suspect who is currently languishing in jail.  (FREEMAN)