Sambag 1 shooting business dispute eyed as motive

CEBU, Philippines — Business disputes may have been the reason of the altercation between the two families that resulted to a shootout in Barangay Sambag 1, Cebu City last Monday morning, the police said.

Police Chief Inspector Edward Sanchez, Abellana Police Station chief, said that they are now verifying reports on the alleged car business disagreements between the two families that broke the longtime friendship of Shaun Bacaltos and Vanzant Navales.

Their initial investigation revealed that Navales lost a lot of money in a partnership with Bacaltos.

Sanchez said they no longer consider the love triangle angle as the “main motive” in the crime because they discovered that it happened years ago.

The police, however, did not drop that angle completely, as both Shaun and Vanzant reportedly fell with the same girl.

"Kung love triangle almost five years ago na to nahitabo, siguro mga one year lang, maka-move on na ang lalaki," Sanchez said.

Vanzant's brother, Vincent Navales, is now on a hospital arrest because of the gunshot wound he sustained during the shooting incident.

Vincent, who was with Vanzant and allegedly shoot Shaun's father Edwin Bacaltos, surrendered to PO3 Rommel Patalinghug, who is their relative and is assigned at the 2nd Provincial Mobile Force Company based in Don Andres Soriano, Toledo City.

He was then turned over to the Abellana Police station and is now facing a murder case.

Initial investigation of the police revealed that Vanzant, together with his brother and three other friends, went the residence of the Bacaltoses which then resulted into an altercation and later on a shootout.

Vanzant died on the spot, while Shaun was rushed to the hospital but was declared dead on arrival.

Edwin died a few hours after the shooting incident.

The police have arrested Shaun's brother, Michael, after admitting that he was the one who finished off Vanzant.

The police also revealed that they already have the names of the three friends of the Navaleses who were present during the crime.

They will also be charged as accomplice in the murder case against Vincent.

The police are now tracking the whereabouts of the three accomplices. — GAN (FREEMAN)