Drinking session dispute ends in fatal shooting

By Glazyl Y. Masculino

BACOLOD CITY – A man was fatally shot last Thursday in Barangay Hilub-ang, Calatrava, Negros Occidental after reportedly provoking his drinking partner.

The deceased has been identified as 26-year-old Junnifer Pancho of the same village.

Police Major Ronald Santillan, the town’s police chief, reported that Pancho and a 28-year-old individual were partaking in a drinking session at a friend’s birthday celebration when the altercation occurred.

A barangay councilor present at the scene suggested the suspect depart to de-escalate the situation.

However, as the suspect was heading home, he was allegedly followed by Pancho, an act which seemingly aggravated the latter and led to the fatal shooting, as per Santillan’s account.

Pancho sustained several gunshot wounds to his chest and neck. “Gina garit-garit ni sang victim ang suspect,” remarked Santillan, implying agitation by the victim.

The police chief disclosed that the suspect voluntarily surrendered to barangay officials on the same day and was subsequently placed under police custody.

The weapon, a .38 caliber gun implicated in the incident, was not located, with the suspect claiming to have discarded it while fleeing.

Authorities are currently awaiting the victim’s family’s decision regarding the pursuit of murder charges against the alleged perpetrator.