Man guns down drinking buddy

By: Jennifer P. Rendon 

A man was accused of killing his drinking buddy following an altercation evening of July 13, 2019.

The incident happened while both the victim and suspect attended a neighbor’s birthday party at Barangay Natividad, Barotac Nuevo, Iloilo.

Police identified the fatality as Gil Baculinao, 30, who worked as a fishpond caretaker.

Police Major Joven Arevalo, Barotac Viejo police chief, named the suspect as Arin Salvadico, 38, also from Barangay Natividad.

Arevalo said he personally knew Salvadico as he used to work as a job hire at the local government of Barotac Viejo.

“He was a utility worker who did cleaning works at the town hall and even here at the police station. At times, he also acted as traffic auxiliary,” he said.

The day before the incident happened, he was also seen at the police station doing some carpentry works.

On the night of the shooting incident, the two were seated beside each other as they joined several others on a drinking binge.

There was no commotion that happened but witnesses surmised the two had a misunderstanding.

The victim was about to punch or slap Salvadico but the latter immediately pulled a 22-gauge shotgun and fired it.

Baculinao was hit on the left side of his chest.

He was rushed to Gov. Niel D Tupas Sr. Memorial District Hospital in Barotac Viejo but was declared dead on arrival.

Salvadico immediately fled after the incident.

But through the parents of his live-in-partner, he voluntarily yielded 12:30 noon of Sunday.

He is presently detained pending the filing of charges against him.