By Glazyl Y. Masculino
BACOLOD City – Police are probing the death of three persons, including a teacher and a principal at Uybico Bilbao Senior High School in Barangay Po-ok, Hinoba-an, Negros Occidental yesterday.
Police identified the fatalities as Chistopher Aroy, 35, a call center agent, and his wife Almarisa, 35, a public school teacher, both residents of Barangay Poblacion, Cauayan town; and the suspect identified as Warren Escosar, 56, of Barangay Bulwangan, Hinoba-an town.
Police Major John Ganzon, Hinoba-an town police chief, said Escosar and the couple probably met by chance at the parking area of the school when Aroy brought his wife to school that morning.
Escosar, who was armed with a shotgun allegedly shot Aroy.
Aroy’s wife managed to run towards the classroom to hide, but Escosar caught up and shot her also, Ganzon said.
Escosar then returned to his driven pick-up truck, took a .45 caliber firearm, and allegedly shot himself to death, Ganzon said.
Ganzon said they could not yet establish if an argument or confrontation occurred between the couple and Escosar before the incident.
Some teachers witnessed the incident. In fact, one of them was able to capture a portion of the incident.
Ganzon said that some students were also at the school as they were attending limited face-to-face classes that day.
The incident may have been triggered by Almarisa’s plan to file a complaint against Escosar for alleged sexual harassment.
Ganzon said Almarisa reported the incident to the authorities through phone and was supposed to go to the police station to file a formal complaint until the shooting happened.
“Gina hulat-hulat na siya tani sang Women and Children Protection Desk (WCPD) ta na makadto siya, pero natabo ato,” he added.
Ganzon said the principal probably acted violently when he learned about Almarisa’s plan which could cause a scandal.
“Basi nag gamo paminsaron niya, nagulpihan siya amo na nag result sa amo to,” Ganzon said.
Ganzon said they will check Escosar’s background to determine if there were other complaints against him.
Police Corporal Fransisco Sabanal, case investigator of Hinoba-an Municipal Police Station, said they received information that Escosar’s firearms have licenses, but police will have it validated.
In a statement, the school announced the suspension of classes until further notice, following the incident.
Students were directed to coordinate with their teachers through social media.
