ILOILO CITY – Two persons were killed while three others – two policemen and a reporter – were wounded in a shooting incident in San Jose, Antique Monday.
Town police identified the fatalities as 32-year-old Ervin James Checa and 24-year-old Ana Anacleto.
Wounded were Police Staff Sgt. Albert Talidong and Police Patrolman Reynante Apolinario as well as reporter Stephen Checa, the older brother of Ervin.
The gunman was identified as 22-year-old Venom Dio Vergara.
Police investigation showed that the incident occurred past 7 a.m. in a computer shop managed by Ervin and where Anacleto worked.
The suspect had an argument with Anacleto and Ervin. Vergara had been holding a personal grudge against the them.
Stephen showed up at the computer shop and tried to break up the argument. Vergara momentarily left and came back armed with a 9mm pistol. He shot Anacleto, Ervin, and Stephen.
Three policemen responded to the incident and Vergara opened fire at them. Two of the three police officers were wounded and their police patrol car sustained bullet holes.
Vergara escaped and was later caught by authorities in a rice field almost a kilometer from the crime scene.
The San Jose PNP is preparing criminal cases against Vergara for the deaths of Anacleto and Ervin as well as the wounding of the two cops and Stephen. (Tara Yap)
UPDATED