Wednesday, June 04, 2008 Ex-sergeant charged with in-laws’ murder
A COMPLAINT for double murder and double frustrated murder was filed against retired Philippine Air Force (PAF) master sergeant Ernesto “Nestor” Bugarin yesterday before the Office of the Cebu City Prosecutor.
The complaint was filed amid reports that Bugarin, who had been impleaded in other criminal investigations before, wants to surrender. A source said his family has written the head of a certain law enforcement agency.
The Cebu City Police Office is coordinating with the Central Command in finding Bugarin.
With two people dead and two others still recuperating from gunshot wounds, Bugarin’s family is concerned about his safety.
The family of the people Bugarin is accused of shooting, on the other hand, has approached the police for security.
Bugarin is charged with the fatal shooting of Esmeraldo Pontanar, 41, and Cristito, 72. The victims were the brother and father of Bugarin’s wife, Anecita.
Bugarin is also charged with trying to kill Esmeraldo’s wife, Maria Glen, and her son, Paolo, 13.
The shootings, according to the complaint, reportedly stemmed from an argument between Maria Glen and Bugarin’s wife over dogs that were making a lot of noise.
Esmeraldo allegedly tried to pacify the two quarreling women when Bugarin went out of the house and shot Esmeraldo, Maria Glen and Paulo.
Cristito, who stepped outside the house when the shooting began, was also fatally hit.
The Bugarins and the Pontanars live near each other in a parcel of land owned by their parents, who also live near them.
Because he has not yet been arrested, the double murder and double frustrated murder complaint will be subject to a preliminary investigation, where Bugarin will be subpoenaed and ordered to submit a counter-affidavit.
This is not the first time Bugarin had a run-in with the law. In July 2000, Bugarin allegedly mauled Airman 2nd Class Richard Santiago during an argument inside the Mactan Benito Ebuen Air Base in Lapu-Lapu City.
Bugarin allegedly accused Santiago, then with the 561st Air Police Squadron, of reporting the suspect’s alleged habitual drunkenness to their commanding officer.
A police investigation said that Bugarin poked an M-16 rifle at Santiago and hit him with the rifle’s butt-stock. Bugarin then asked Santiago to lead him to the room of a
certain Sgt. Rimas.
The incident nearly escalated into a shootout when another member of the Air Police Squadron saw what happened and pointed his own firearm at Bugarin. KNR/With (JST)
