Cops eye personal grudge in Oro shooting

POLICE authorities are eyeing personal grudge as motive in the killing of a 27-year-old man Thursday dawn in Barangay Bugo, Cagayan de Oro City.

Joel Cadeliña, a resident of Zone 3 in Barangay Bugo, succumbed to three gunshot wounds in the head, arms, and body from a still undetermined handgun.

Cadeliña was rushed to a nearby hospital in Barangay Puerto but was declared dead on arrival by doctors.

Police Senior Inspector Lornoel Ochate, station commander of Puerto Police Station, said one of the suspects, Joel Pantuan, a resident of Zone 4, surrendered a few hours after.

Ochate said Pantuan was with his companion identified as Roque Rasero, 35, a resident of Block 24 Lot 32, Phase 2-B Villa Trinitas also in Bugo, during the incident.

Police said Pantuan and Rasero fled after the incident onboard a black XRM motorcycle with no plate number heading towards Tagoloan town in Misamis Oriental.

Operatives of Puerto Police Station conducted pursuit operation against the suspects but Ochate said Pantuan later surrendered.

Initial investigation showed that Pantuan and Cadeliña, who used to be childhood friends, were reported to have “personal grudge” several months ago.

“Ug dihang nagkatagbo sila adtong higayona, nagkasinumbagay pa pero armado man si Pantuan mao nga napatay gyud ang biktima,” Ochate said.

Pantuan is now temporarily detained at the mini-cell of Puerto Police Station pending the filing of appropriate charges against him. (Annabelle L. Ricalde)