Hog raiser gunned down, family seeks justice

By Felipe V. Celino

ROXAS CITY, Capiz – The family of a hog raiser is seeking justice after he was gunned down Sunday afternoon at Brgy. Inzo Arnaldo here.

John Arana Fria was shot dead while inside his car by two riding in tandem suspects.

Fria’s mother Perlita said that she could not find any reason why her son was brutally killed in broad daylight.

“Wala na sya kontra, mabuot kag mabinuligon ina nga tawo,” Perlita said.

Fria’s live-in partner, Cathlyn Junsay, also rued her partner’s death in a media interview on Tuesday.

“Wala sang hustisya nga makatupong sa guinhimo nila sa akon partner. Amo pa lang kami nagasugod pero guinpatay nila ang mangin amay sang akon bata,” she added.

Junsay described the victim as a soft-spoken man, responsible, and had no vices.

She said that John was very happy when she confided to him that she was pregnant with their first child.

The two were planning to get married in a few months after a year of living together.

Lt. Col. Aaron Palomo, Roxas Component City Police Station police chief, said the police are hunting down the suspects who shot Fria, 26, of Brgy. Pinamalatican Sigma, Capiz but temporarily stayed in Brgy. Banica here.

Police are eyeing three angles for the incident: land dispute, old grudges, and revenge.

Before the incident happened, Fria brought Junsay to a mall in Brgy. Lawaan here and later bought feeds for his hog-raising business.

Palomo said the suspects may have followed the victim while driving his Mitsubishi Pajero and later shot him from behind.

The Pajero then swerved and crashed into a concrete fence before bursting into flames.

Based on the investigation of the Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP)-Roxas City, the fire may have erupted due to the crash or the suspects may have torched the vehicle.

Police said Fria suffered gunshot wounds on his chest, neck, and lower portion of his shoulder.

Three empty shells of .45 caliber ammunition were recovered from the crime scene.

Fria bought the Pajero from former Brgy. Punta Tabuc punong barangay Rene Barrios sometime in 2018.

Based on the data gathered by the Roxas City PNP from Sigma Municipal Police Station, Fria was involved in a shooting incident but it was amicably settled and the other party issued an affidavit of non-interest.

The victim had no records pertaining to illegal drugs as well.