Land row leads to death, injuries of warring relatives

GAMU, Isabela — A long-drawn-out land dispute among relatives here, involving among others an Army officer here, a provincial sheriff and a college instructor, led to a shooting incident which resulted to the death of one and the serious injury of the other over the weekend.

Killed during the incident was Aristotle Ramirez, a teacher at Saint Ferdinand College, Ilagan, while his brother, lawyer Raymundo Ramirez, a provincial sheriff, was injured on his right hand, needing him to be treated at the Ilagan District General Hospital in Ilagan.

Police said the incident figured on one hand, Aristotle, Raymundo and their brother Julius Ramirez, an Army officer assigned with the 5th Infantry Division at Camp Melchor F. dela Cruz here; and their second cousin, Amoreo Ramirez and his son Romarico, who also sustained gunshot wounds, on the other.

Police reports indicated that Julius and his two brothers, all residents of District 1, Gamu, went to their 62-year-old cousin’s cornfield, which was the subject of a land dispute between their families, allegedly to destroy his newly planted corn.

The incident was reportedly sparked when, after a Supreme Court decision, Amoreo’s son Romarico, started tilling the land based on the Regional Trial Court’s writ of execution.

When the three alighted at the said place, they were met by Amoreo and his son Romarico who allegedly grabbed Julius’ M16 Armalite rifle. This led to a scuffle, resulting in the gun going off, killing Aristotle instantly and injuring Raymundo on his right hand.

Romarico, who was also injured during the incident, was confined at the Isabela Provincial Hospital in Ilagan.

The police, meanwhile, recovered three spent M-16 Armalite shells at the crime scene. Investigators are presently coordinating with the provost marshal of the Army’s 5th ID to have Julius Ramirez back for paraffin test and to check whether the baby Armalite allegedly used in the incident was legally issued to him. — Charlie Lagasca