Sea patrol member shoots fisherman dead, then slashes his throat

LEGAZPI CITY – A fisherman was killed by a sea patrol (bantay dagat) member during a heated argument in Pilar town in Sorsogon Wednesday afternoon, police said.

Senior Insp. Maria Luisa Calubaquib, spokeperson of the Bicol Provincial Police Office, said the victim Jose Lupango, 40, went to the house of the suspect, Carvic Lorda, bantay dagat member, in Barangay Inapugan and provoked Lorda into a fight at around 2 p.m.

A heated argument ensued, which ended with the suspect shooting the victim with an undetermined type of gun at close range on the chest.

Calubaquib added that the suspect made sure the victim would not survive by slashing Lupango’s throat using a “ginunting,” a type of bolo, almost beheading him.

The suspect then fled heading to Barangay San Antonio Sapa on a motorized banca.

The Pilar Municipal Police Station had dispatched officer to look for the suspect. –Michael B. Jaucian /atm