Father, 3 sons arrested for shooting dead 5 in La Union

CAMP GEN. ALEJO SANTOS, Bulacan, Philippines—The four suspects in the shooting and killing of five people, including a three-year-old girl, in La Union, on Tuesday night, were arrested by the police in separate operations in Agoo, La Union on Wednesday, and San Jose del Monte City in Bulacan on Thursday.

Senior Supt. Ferdinand Divina, Bulacan provincial police director, said Eduardo Gayo, 65, and his two sons, Demetrio and Noel, were arrested in a house in Barangay Dulong Bayan in San Jose del Monte at 4:40 a.m. Thursday.

A police report in La Union said the fourth suspect, Ferdinand Gayo, another son of Eduardo, was arrested in a forested area in Barangay Capas in Agoo on Wednesday.

The Gayos were being pursued by the police for the shooting and killing of five people in Agoo. Police said the shooting was prompted by a land dispute between two families.

Divina said policemen from La Union and Bulacan, assisted by village officials, served a warrant issued by a La Union court to the Gayos, who did not resist arrest. Police, however, did not recover any gun from them.

The shooting occurred at 7:15 p.m. Tuesday in Barangay Capas while the victims and the Gayos were drinking on separate tables.

Police said Oscar Gayo, another son of Eduardo, approached the victims’ table and challenged them to a fight. His brother Noel, armed with a .45 cal. pistol, later shot the victims.

“Everyone who stood up was shot for no reason,” said Chief Insp. Artemio Infante, Agoo police chief.

Killed instantly were Gilbert Cecilio, 41, a Dagupan City resident; Gil Cabilitazan, 58, and Reynaldo Refuerzo, 30, both residents of Barangay Capas; and Mary Anne Refuerzo, 3.

Reports said Zosimo Fontanilla, one of the four wounded victims, died while being treated in a hospital in San Fernando City.