Elderly farmer shot dead inside own house

By Jennifer P. Rendon

A 65-year-old farmer died after he was gunned down inside his house evening of Nov. 26 in Dumangas, Iloilo.

Police identified the victim as Abelardo Siva, 65, of Barangay Balabag, Dumangas.

It was not clear what drove the gunman, Joecel Maderse, 36, of Barangay, Quipot, Janiuay town, to kill the victim.

Master Sergeant Ramon Baylon Jr., Dumangas police investigator, said Siva and Maderse don’t know each other and it was apparently the latter’s first time to visit the victim’s house.

Police reports said the victim had just had his dinner. He proceeded to their lanai to watch his son, Zacarias Siva, and the latter’s mechanic-friend Benjie Noquera fix their motorcycle.

Shortly later, Maderse and his friend, Alex Alog, 48, also a resident of Balabag village, passed by the area.

Alog‘s mother and Abelardo are siblings.

The two went inside the yard and even shared a drink with Zacarias and Noquera.

Alog then asked his cousin Zacarias if he wanted to go with him somewhere else but the latter declined.

Noquera shortly later asked Zacarias to get him a screwdriver.

It wasn’t long before Zacarias claimed to have heard the sound of a cocking of a firearm.

When he turned his back, he allegedly saw Maderse pointing a 12-gauge shotgun at his father.

The assailant eventually fired his gun at Abelardo who fell on the couch.

Zacarias claimed he heard another shot before Maderse and his cousin left the house.

The victim was taken to Ramon D. Duremdes District Hospital in Dumangas town but was declared dead on arrival.

Baylon said they immediately responded to the scene and conducted a hot pursuit operation.

They were able to arrest Alog while Maderse made good of his escape.

Alog denied anything to do with the incident but also failed to justify why he fled along with Maderse.

Investigation is still ongoing to establish the motive of the killing.