Mocking words on tarpaulin lead to murder

It reportedly enraged them to see their enemy’s taunting words on a tarpaulin streamer.

Four people are facing charges for allegedly killing a relative in Mandaluyong City Friday night. Police said the suspects attacked the

victim after seeing a sign on his house that mocked them in connection with a land dispute.

Senior Supt. Florendo Quibuyen, chief of the Mandaluyong police, said Crisniel de Guzman, Boy Reyes alias “Boyong,” Willie Reyes and Catherine Reyes would be charged with the murder of Gerald Reanales, a 28-year-old businessman from Barangay Barangka-Ilaya.

The suspects, who live in the same house not far from Reanales, may have been enraged after seeing a streamer on his house that carried the message: “Congratulations! The charges have been dismissed against you.” The sign was put up by the businessman’s wife, Quibuyen said.

Reanales was earlier sued by the four suspects in connection with a land dispute but the complaint was dismissed for lack of probable cause.

Quibuyen said the suspects were identified through a security camera footage, which purportedly showed the four suspects confronting Reanales as he and his wife were walking along Ilaya Street around 9:30 p.m. on Friday.

De Guzman then shot the businessman with a .45-caliber pistol and another suspect also fired at the victim while he was already down on the ground.

The four suspects remain at large.