BACOLOD CITY, Negros Occidental, Philippines – Family was the common theme that led to the death of two men in Sugarlandia, one shot dead by an in-law, the other killed by his own hand, both on the same day in the northern Negros town of Calatrava.
Town police chief, Captain Jesus Alba said Gilbert Claro, 37, was shot several times by his in-law, Raymart Cabriana, in Paghumayan village after a verbal tussle between the suspect’s wife (the victim’s sister) and Claro.
An account of the events leading to the fatal shooting, pieced together by probers, showed the incident was triggered by a separate incident inside the house shortly before the shooting when Claro scolded another sister for bringing a suitor without asking for his permission.
As Claro and his younger sister argued, the wife of the suspect stepped in and told Claro to let her be.
An incensed Claro fought his other sister that led to Cabriana stepping into the fray.
Claro went out of the house a few minutes after the fight but, unknown to him, the suspect followed him armed with a gun.
Cabriana then shot Claro several times in the head.
He was declared dead by doctors by the time he arrived at a local hospital.
Alba said there was already simmering tension between the Cabriana couple and Claro who wanted them out of the family house after they got married.
In Maaslob village, a young man, 23, hanged himself after his girlfriend who is a relative was forced by her parents to leave him.
Alba said the man could have possibly felt depressed after the breakup.
DNX has withheld all details about the victim to protect his family’s privacy.
