BY JOEL CALAMBA ESCOL, Managing Editor
CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY – An alleged discussion on politics among drinking buddies has turned sour which led to a shooting incident that killed one person and injured another in Barangay Macasandig here early Friday morning.
Police said Anthony Espina was declared dead on arrival at the government-owned Northern Mindanao Medical Center due to gunshot wounds in the head while Peth Jagualing sustained injuries in his shoulder and is currently undergoing treatment at the J.R. Borja General Hospital.
Capt. Allan Cairel, commander of Barangay Nazareth Police Station 9, identified the suspect as Jonathan Borja, 48, a resident of Apollo Apartments in Macasandig and a councilor of Barangay 3.
Cairel said Borja surrendered to authorities after the incident.
He said they still can’t confirm how many gunshot wounds the victims sustained but investigators recovered eight empty shells at the scene.
As of this writing, Cairel said police personnel are still at the hospital waiting for reports from the victims’ attending physicians.
Initial police investigation showed that the two victims and a certain Danny Maandig were having a drinking session in front of a store when Borja came and joined them.
Later, a heated argument ensued among them which resulted to the mauling of Borja.
Reports said Borja left and returned a few minutes later with a .45 caliber pistol and shot the victims.
Macasandig chair Amor Sanchez relayed that based on the accounts of the residents who heard the altercation, Borja and the victims argued on issues about politics.
But Cairel said police will still conduct further investigation to determine the real reason of the argument.
