3 killed, 1 hurt in bloody birthday bash

Koronadal City – A birthday party in Barangay Morales of this city turned bloody Wednesday evening when their visitors turned into rumble that resulted into shooting and hacking, leaving three people dead and seriosly injuring one. Police identified the dead as Ray­mundo Estabillo, Elmer Panes and Teban Alegria, all residents of Barangay Morales of this city.

Reports said Estabillo sustained a fatal gunshot wound on his heart that caused his instant death. Panes and Alegria suffered hack wounds on their stomachs who both died also.

Wounded was a certain Botog Estabillo, the first cousin of Raymundo. He is presently confined at the South Cotabato provincial hospital here due to a lone gunshot wound on his chest.

The incident took place at the house of Francisco Sapin at around 8:30 p.m. Wednesday at Purok Alegria of the said barangay. Reports from the city police station here said prior to the bloody incident, the victims, except Alegria, were invited by Sapin, who was celebrating his birthday that day, to come to his house for a drinking session.

A few hours later, an angry Alegria, who was holding a pistol, arrived to Sapin’s house and asked for Botog.

Alegria accused Botog of stealing his imported derby chicken. When he saw Botog, Alegria immediately shot him but was prevented by Panes, who was sitting beside Botog.

The bullet went to Ray­mundo’s body that caused his instant death.

When Botog saw what happened to Raymundo, he took a bolo and chased Alegria. Botog hacked Aleg­ria and he instantly died. But before Alegria died, he was able to pull the trigger of his pistol and shot Botog, hitting him on the chest.  

It was unclear to the police report who hacked Panes, who was lying on the ground with severe hack wounds on his stomach. But some of the people there who witnessed the incident said it was Botog who hacked Panes to death. 

Witnesses told The STAR that all the victims were related to each other.

Senior Supirentendent Florendo Quidilla, chief of the Koronadal City police, said they are still conducting further investigation about the incident.       – Ramil Bajo