A birthday celebration turned tragic after the celebrant and his father died while two others were injured when a Citizens Armed Forces Geographical Unit (CAFGU) member allegedly shot them in Purok Lubi, Brgy. Montilla, Moises Padilla, Negros Occidental, Tuesday afternoon, Jan. 2.
John Albert Templatura, 32, who was celebrating his birthday, and his father, Godofredo, 70, died after they were shot by CAFGU member Donan Sosia, the police reported Wednesday.
A video of the incident showed John Albert walking towards the suspect with a bolo whom Sosia then shot.
The video also showed that when John Albert fell on the ground, his father attempted to approach the suspect but was shot, too, resulting in his death.
Lt. Armel Lasap, Moises Padilla deputy police chief, said they recovered nine fired cartridges of an M-6 rifle at the scene of the crime.
Stray bullets also injured two bystanders identified as Marites Rafol, 49, and Jeisel Abaño, 34, who were hit in their legs, the police reported.
John Albert was carrying a bolo and had a confrontation with a person who caused a commotion, the police reported.
The barangay captain sought the help of the CAFGU, which prompted the suspect together with the other members of his detachment to go to the area to pacify those involved in the commotion.
Sucio said that when they initially responded, the situation had already subsided but they returned when another commotion occurred, resulting to the incident.
The suspect said that he was sorry about the incident and stressed that he acted in self-defense.
Jomar Templatura, the victims’ relative, said that they were celebrating John Albert’s birthday when the incident happened.
He said that when Sucio arrived, the victims were already sitting down but when the suspect shouted who caused the commotion, this prompted John Albert to approach him with a bolo.
The family of the victim will file charges against the suspect, Templatura said.
The suspect is detained at the Moises Padilla Police Station and could face murder charges.*