Kagawad surrenders after killing man who went ‘berserk’

By Glazyl Y. Masculino

BACOLOD City – The Himamaylan City Police Station in Negros Occidental is waiting for the decision of a family if they will file charges against a barangay official who killed their relative after the latter allegedly went berserk at Sitio Lati, Barangay Mahalang last Saturday.

Police Lieutenant Arturo Margallo Jr., deputy police chief of Himamaylan City Police Station, said Kagawad Esmeraldo Endico Jr., 35, of the said village surrendered at the police station last Sunday after shooting to death 43-year-old Danilo Latingga.

Margallo said the commotion occurred when Endico responded to a call for assistance regarding the unruly behavior of Latingga.

Latingga, who was allegedly armed with a cane cutter and a bolo, arrived home drunk and allegedly harassed anyone he met on the street.

When Endico tried to pacify him, Latingga allegedly harassed and attacked him, prompting the former to draw an unidentified firearm and shoot the latter.

Police recovered from the scene a cane cutter, bolo, and a cartridge of 12-gauge shotgun ammunition.

Margallo said that Endico fled after the incident as he feared for his safety.

Margallo said Endico would usually be called for assistance by residents to pacify Latingga every time he would create alarm and scandal in the area.

However, the victim acted violently at that time, prompting the suspect to also protect himself from the attack, he added.

Margallo said Latingga’s family has yet to coordinate with the police if they will press charges against the suspect or not.

“Kami ya ma file lang kami case pero ang court na maka-determine if self defense man gid ato,” he added.

Margallo said that Endico will be released from police custody after the lapse of his 36-hour reglementary detention if no case will be filed against him.