Man shot dead over love triangle

By Glazyl Y. Masculino

BACOLOD City – Police are looking into love triangle as possible motive behind the death of a man at Purok Sigay, Barangay 2 here last Wednesday.

Killed was Joenard Esquilla, 40, of the said village.

Police Lieutenant Jonito Pastrana, deputy station commander of Police Station 2, said Esquilla was home with his live-in partner when two unidentified persons arrived.

Pastrana said the perpetrators, who were wearing bonnets, then shot the victim after they told his live-in partner to go out of their rented house.

Police recovered from the scene four empty shells of .45-caliber ammunition.

Pastrana said they are considering the case as a possible crime of passion, since the victim’s live-in partner was the former wife of an alleged drug personality who was arrested last September 2021.

“Kilala man siya na mabuot da sa lugar, gina sugo siya sang mga residents da like small errands,” he added.

Pastrana said Esquilla was previously jailed for illegal gambling and was charged for theft several years ago.

When asked if the incident could also be drug related, Pastrana said there were reports that Esquilla was allegedly using illegal drugs, but he was not in the illegal drug trade as he’s not on their drugs watchlist.

Pastrana said they will also investigate the background of the victim’s live-in partner, who disappeared after the incident.