Pa, son shot dead by Cafgu in commotion

By Glazyl Y. Masculino

BACOLOD City – Multiple charges were filed yesterday against a member of the Civilian Armed Forces Geographical Unit (Cafgu) Active Auxiliary (CAA) after he shot to death a father and son, and wounded two women in a commotion in Barangay Montilla, Moises Padilla, Negros Occidental last Tuesday.

Criminal complaints for two counts of murder and two counts of attempted murder were filed against 32-year-old Donan Sosia, of Barangay Macagahay, a Cafgu assigned to the 2nd Platoon 32nd Negros Occidental CAA Delta Company of the Army’s 62nd Infantry Battalion (IB), for “excessive use of force,” according to Police Major Jovito Bose, town police chief.

The incident came after Sosia responded to a call for assistance from the village chief about a commotion in the area around 4:30 p.m.

Police identified the fatalities as Godofredo Templatura, 70, and his son John Albert Templatura, 32.

Wounded were Marites Rafol, 49, and Jeisel Abaño, 34.

Bose said that Godofredo and John Albert were having a drinking session with a group when the latter figured in a heated argument with another person.

The barangay captain first responded to pacify them, but she asked assistance from the nearby Cafgu detachment when they eventually became unruly, Bose said.

When Sosia approached John Albert to pacify him, the latter allegedly attempted to hack the Cafgu with a bolo.

This prompted Sosia to draw his firearm and shoot John Albert, Bose said.

But Sosia also shot Godofredo when the latter came near him, the police chief added.

Bose said the father and son suffered multiple gunshot wounds and died on the spot, while the two other victims were hit by stray bullets in the legs and were transferred to a hospital here.

Bose said the suspect returned to the detachment after the incident and was arrested there.

Police recovered his issued M16 rifle, and a bandolier with seven loaded magazines.

Bose said that the Templaturas’ would usually become unruly whenever they were drunk according to some people there. However, this recent incident went violent which led to their deaths.

In an interview with XFM Bacolod, Sosia said that he only defended himself, considering that one of the fatalities was armed with a weapon.

He also apologized to the families of the victims for the incident. “Pasensya gid. Madamo gid nga pasensya pero indi ko man gusto ang natabo,” he said.

Sosia, a Cafgu for 13 years, said that he is willing to face the charges against him.