BACOLOD City – An “outburst of emotion” prompted a private elementary school security guard to shoot an electrician in Talisay City, Negros Occidental on Tuesday.
Harold Tañongon, 59, was apologetic as he admitted to the crime when he turned himself in to the Talisay City police station.
School electrician Rey Bico died of two gunshot wounds on the left chest.
Tañongon and Bico were working at the Catholic Church-run Colegio de San Nicolas de Tolentino – Recoletos in Barangay Zone 6, Talisay City.
He and Bico have been at odds since Sunday, Tañongon said.
On Tuesday they had a confrontation. Tañongon claimed Bico slapped the back of his head and tried to grab his service firearm.
This prompted him to draw out his .38 revolver and fire at Bico along a lobby fronting the school’s accounting office, said the guard.
The shooting happened at around 7:30 a.m. right after the flag-raising ceremony and in front of several pupils, parents and teachers.
Bico was a resident of Hacienda Manaul, Barangay Matab-ang, Talisay City.
Tañongon, on the other hand, lived in Barangay E. Lopez, Silay City.
The suspect told the police he regretted what he did. He insisted it was triggered by an “outburst of emotions.”
He asked for forgiveness from Bico’s family and said he was ready to face punishment.
Tañongon was detained at the Talisay City police station. He has not yet been charged.
The Colegio de San Nicolas de Tolentino – Recoletos management has yet to issue a statement on the shooting as of this writing./PN
