BANGUED, Abra – Two persons, including a bar owner, died while a barangay chairman, who perpetrated the shooting incident, was injured inside a bar at Calaba, here, Tuesday dawn.
Police authorities identified the fatalities as Elpidio Barbadillo Castillo, Jr., 49, married, bar owner and Nonilo Billedo, 31, single, unemployed and both residents of Bangbanggar, Bangued, Abra.
The suspect, who is Calaba punong barangay Joel Bayle Mailde, 59, married and a resident of Calaba, Bangued, Abra, was shot by responding police officers after he allegedly refused to be pacified in the perpetration of the incident within the compound of the bar.
Initial police investigation showed that the punong barangay, who was allegedly under the influence of liquor, together with his companion, arrived in the bar and wanted the establishment to be closed that later escalated into a heated argument with the bar owner.
After a few moments, the suspect allegedly shot the bar owner several times while stray bullets also hit one of the victims.
Responding police operatives tried to subdue the suspect but he allegedly fired at the law enforcers that prompted them to return fire hitting him on his head and back.
The victims and the suspect were rushed to the different hospitals in the capital town but Catillo died while undergoing medical treatment at the Abra Provincial Hospital while Billedo died in the Seares Memorial Hospital.
On the other hand, Mailde was admitted for further medical observation at the Abra Provincial Hospital.
Probers are still ascertaining the motive behind the fatal shooting incident that caused the untimely demise of the bar owner. By Dexter A. See
