Man guns down 70-year-old neighbor over kids’ fight

By Jennifer P. Rendon

A fight between children turned into a full-blown dispute among adults and ended in the killing of a 70-year-old farmer from Bingawan, Iloilo.

Efren Blancaflor was on a drinking spree when he was shot dead by his neighbor, Jessie Parren Jr., 28, of Sirio Cubay Barangay Poblacion, Bingawan.

According to reports, Blancaflor and his wife Cristina were at the house of their neighbor Ramon Portugalete Jr. when the incident happened.

He excused himself to pee and went outside Portugalete’s house.

Blancaflor was relieving himself when a man wearing a white shirt and a bonnet shot him.

The victim suffered pellet wounds on the side of his body and chest.

He was rushed to Calinog District Hospital but was declared dead on arrival.

Lieutenant Ryan Christ Inot, Bingawan police chief, said two witnesses identified Parren as the assailant.

After the incident, the suspect fled on foot and remains at large as of press time.

Investigation indicated that Blancaflor and Parren’s disagreement started two months back. It stemmed from a fight between Blancaflor’s Grade 6 grandson and Parren’s Grade 9 nephew.

“Nagsumbong yata ang apo sa biktima na nag-away sila ng pamangkin ng suspect,” Inot said.

It appeared that Blancaflor overreacted and was quoted to have said, “nga-a sin-o gid na sila? Sin-o gid na sila nga mga maisog? (Who are they? Who are these daring people?)”

The disagreement reached the barangay lupon or local peace council.

Apparently, Parren didn’t back down from Blancaflor. He was heard to have threatened the victim.

But since Parren was allegedly suffering from a nervous breakdown, Blancaflor did not take the threat seriously.

As this developed, Inot said Blancaflor’s family is bent on pursuing criminal charges against the suspect.