MANILA, Philippines–Angry and frustrated at his housemate’s “bad” habits, the cousin of a barangay (village) chair in Manila shot to death a tricycle driver whom he caught still sleeping in the house they shared while their fellow workers were already out at work.
Eduardo Damayo, 40, admitted he shot Gener Hermosa, 30, while the latter was in bed in Barangay 255, Tondo, Manila, on Thursday,
Police found Hermosa on a chair with gunshot wounds on his head and neck.
Mike Muñoz, a barangay resident, said that right after he heard gunshots coming from the suspect’s house, he saw Damayo leave in a hurry.
Other neighbors who heard the shots rushed to the barangay hall to report the incident to Barangay Chair Arnel Dungo.
A cousin of the suspect, Dungo said he immediately dispatched a group of barangay tanod to run after Damayo, who was seen atop the roof of their aunt’s house nearby.
After he was apprehended by the group, Damayo confessed to shooting Hermosa, saying that he did it because the latter never offered to help in the house chores, but would be the first at the table when it was time to eat.
Dungo said that apart from having one too many at the time of the shooting, his cousin was also known to use illegal drugs.
Damayo and Hermosa had been living in a house rented by the barangay to provide quarters for their workers, said Dungo.
Damayo, however, did not stay there regularly since he had his own home in Parañaque City.
Homicide investigator SPO1 Rommel del Rosario said they recovered one bullet of still unknown caliber inside the house where Hermosa was killed.
Police have yet to recover the murder weapon.