By Aaron Recuenco
The hot weather apparently got into the head of a resident of Boac town of Marinduque who allegedly tried to kill his neighbor whom he accused of closing the valve of their water connection on Tuesday night.
Police Lt. Col. Socrates Faltado, spokesman of the MIMAROPA (Mindoro Occidental and Oriental, Marinduque, Romblon and Palawan) regional police, said victim Richard Jamig would have been killed had he not able to run for his life.
“He was shot twice. The first bullet hit him on the back while the second shot fired missed,” said Faltado.
The official said the victim and his live-in partner were watching television in their store at around 8 p.m. on Tuesday in Barangay Bantay when suspect Jose Lope appeared in front of their store.
Jamig thought that Lope would buy something but decided to run away when he spotted the latter holding a handgun.
Lope chased Jamig and fired twice at him. He was able to run and was later brought by their neighbors to the hospital.
Lope was arrested in a follow-up operation. He surrendered the gun he used in the shooting.
“The investigation disclosed that the suspect presumed that the victim was closing the gate valve of his water line, leading to the incident,” said Faltado.
Appropriate charges are now being readied against the suspect, including violation of the gun ban. (Aaron Recuenco)