BANGUED, Abra – A 41-year old farmer died while another person was injured after they were fired upon by a gun-wielding individual at sitio Pudoc, barangay Cabuloan, here, recently.
Superintendent Mark Pespes, officer-in-charge of the Abra Provincial Police Office, identified the fatality as Moises Nicanor Castañeda Rafal, 41, single, farmer, a resident of Cabuloan, Bangued, Abra and the injured person was named as Pedro Abanilla Valeros, father of the suspect, who was identified as Rodel Zales Valeros, 37, married, farmer, and a resident of Cabuloan, Bangued, Abra.
Initial police investigation showed the victim was preparing to go to his farm when the suspect and his father arrived.
At this juncture, a heated altercation suddenly erupted between the victim and the suspect that prompted his father to pacify the commotion.
However, the suspect drew his firearm and shot the victim on his head while the stray bullet hit his father on the arm.
The victim was rushed to the Abra Provincial Hospital for medical treatment but he was pronounced dead on arrival by attending physicians while the suspects father was discharged after being treated at the Seares Memorial Hospital.
Responding police operatives and elements of the Scene of the Crime Operation (SOCO) team recovered from the crime scene a spent shell of a caliber .45 pistol which was used by the suspect in the perpetration of the crime.
The suspect is now the subject of a manhunt in order for probers to ascertain the motive of the incident.
By Dexter A. See