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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider Visayas devider 2 men slay neighbors on Christmas Day

2 men slay neighbors on Christmas Day

Published Dec 26, 2025 06:42 pm
CEBU CITY – Two men died in a gun attack that marred Christmas Day in Barangay Sawang Calero here.
Melber Alicabo, 40, and his half-brother, 36-year-old Romel Fernandez, were shot one after another by their neighbors on Thursday morning.
Merlinda Fernandez, Romel's mother, told police that the suspects, Eric and Aljun Espina, broke into their house looking for Alicabo. Once inside, Eric shot Alicabo.
Romel went down to check on the commotion but he too was shot.
Merlinda said the fatal shooting was doubly painful as she also celebrated her birth anniversary on Christmas Day.
The victim’s family believed that revenge was the motive of the attack. Alicabo was jailed for shooting one of the suspects' family members.
The suspects threatened to get back at Alicabo if he gets out of jail. Eric was arrested in a hot-pursuit operation four hours after the attack. Police said the firearm allegedly used in the attack was recovered.
Police Col. George Ylanan, chief of the Cebu City Police Office, commended the Sawang Calero Police Station for the gunman’s immediate arrest. Ylanan said charges are being readied against Eric while operations to arrest Aljun are ongoing.

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Christmas Day Shooting Murder Deaths Crime Cebu City
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