Man shot dead in botched robbery attempt

By Jennifer P. Rendon

 

A suspected burglar ended up dead following a botched robbery attempt on a fishpond in San Dionisio, Iloilo early morning of May 13, 2021.

Roger Fernandez, 44, a resident of Barangay Hacienda Conchita, San Dionisio, was already dead when police found him at Sara District Hospital several hours later.

Police accounts claimed that Fernandez and at least one companion broke into a fishpond at Barangay Cubay, San Dionisio around 12:30 a.m. Thursday.

Captain Rene del Castillo, San Dionisio police chief, said the fishpond is owned by Tomas Hautea who employed Ernesto Esclada Jr., 54, and Alman Escasinas, 41, both residents of Calampitao, Igbaras, Iloilo, as caretakers.

Escalada and Escasinas allegedly caught Fernandez catching milkfish at the fishpond.

The two then called out for Fernandez to voluntarily surrender.

But the intruder allegedly drew a homemade caliber .45 pistol. Escasinas, who was armed with a 12-gauge shotgun, immediately fired at the former.

Fernandez was hit, but not fatally, on his neck.

This prompted Esclada to grab Fernandez’s gun.

Esclada said he pulled the trigger during the scuffle. The bullet again hit Fernandez’s neck.

The two told police investigators they left the wounded burglar to seek police assistance.

“But when our policemen arrived in the crime scene, Fernandez was no longer in the area,” del Castillo said.

Police later learned that a family member took Fernandez to Sara District Hospital around 5 a.m. but he was declared dead while undergoing treatment 26 minutes after.

Del Castillo surmised that Fernandez had at least one companion who carried him to their getaway boat and took him to their village, which is adjacent to Hautea’s fishpond.

He added that Fernandez used to work at the fishpond.

Several years ago, he was also caught stealing fish at the fishpond and was imprisoned. But the owner did not pursue criminal charges against him.

Recovered from the scene were a homemade caliber .45 pistol with magazine loaded with ammunition, two bullet cases, a caliber .45 ammunition slug, the 12-gauge shotgun (serial number 12202807) licensed to Hautea, a 12-gauge ammunition casing, and two fishnets with milkfish.

Esclada and Escasinas were taken to San Dionisio Police Station for investigation.

But Del Castillo said there were initial talks between the fishpond owner and Fernandez’s family for a possible settlement.