ILOILO City – Murder and attempted murder charges were filed against a former policeman who fired at his neighbors in Barangay Bolilao, Mandurriao district.
Ariel Acopicop, 54, remained at large as of this writing.
A frustrated murder charge will be further filed against him if his wounded victim comes out of the hospital, according to Chief Inspector Juvy Navales, Mandurriao police head.
The first two cases were filed at the City Prosecutor’s Office on April 12.
Acopicop was accused of shooting the Ariate family at the latter’s house using a .45 pistol at around 4:30 p.m. on April 1.
The 21-year-old Jorem died while his father, 65-year-old Jose, was wounded.
Also present during the shooting was Jorem’s brother JR, who was not hit.
Jose was still confined at the West Visayas State University Medical Center in Jaro district as of this writing.
Investigators said Acopicop and the Ariatres had a decade-long feud but did not say what it was.
Minutes before the shooting, the suspect and victims had a spat. Acopicop, who was driving a motorcycle, nearly hit the Ariates.
“This prompted the younger Ariate (Jorem) to flash a dirty finger sign at the suspect,” said Navales.
Navales said she spoke with Acopicop over the phone and the latter admitted to shooting the Ariates because he felt insulted.
Acopicop used to work in the Iloilo City Police Office as Senior Police Officer 2 until his retirement in 2016./PN
