ASIDE FROM the Kanlaon Volcano eruption that caused panic among residents near its foot on Monday night, June 3, another hyper local story in Bacolod City and Negros Occidental was the fatal love triangle between two neophyte cops and their common “babe”. It’s also the talk-of-the-town as people, especially the ordinary ones, really want to know the details of the tragic love story. More so that there was an element of murder because of betrayal through infidelity. It’s like a movie on love, perfidy and killing.
JEALOUSY
The killing, per Colonel Noel Aliño, director of the Bacolod City Police Office (BCPO), was prompted by jealousy.
The suspect: Patrolman Alvin Rios, 26, of Barangay Bugnay, Valderrama, Antique, is assigned at the Iloilo Police Mobile Force (IPMF).
The victim: Sergeant Jotham Aremtuto Cañete, 31, of Crossing Agustin, Barangay Paraiso, Sagay City, Negros Occidental and assigned at the BCPO.
The shooting incident took place inside the house owned by the suspect and his live-in partner at Camella South Subdivision in Barangay Tangub, Bacolod City at around 5:30 p.m. on May 31.
Bacolod Police Station (BPS) 8 commander, Major Eugene Tolentino, said Rios was from duty in Iloilo, but upon arrival in their house, he saw a topless guy (the victim) inside their bedroom just wearing a pair of boxer shorts with his live-in partner.
Without any provocation, the suspect immediately pulled his .9mm pistol service firearm and shot the victim twice.
The victim died while on his way to a hospital.
ALIBI
Aliño said based on their initial investigation, the suspect already had prior knowledge that his live-in partner had “another man”. He made an alibi as if he was going back to Iloilo on May 30.
But unknown to the live-in partner, Aliño said, Rios went back home the next day and caught them in the act.
The BCPO director, however, said that aside from the jealousy angle he also instructed probers to delve more into the case.
Rios’ live-in partner, said Aliño, signified willingness to stand as witness against the suspect.
Rios and his partner have a six-month-old baby.
DEFENSE
Rios, per reading from www.scribd.com, still has a chance to defend himself in court.
He can invoke Article 247 of the Revised Penal Code (RPC). Such allows spouses to kill their partner or their partner’s lover if caught in the act of adultery without facing murder charges.
And the law applies equally to husbands and wives.
If a spouse kills the adulterous partner and the lover immediately after discovering them, the only penalty is destierro, meaning being prohibited from the location of the crime.
The law is meant to protect the honor of the spouse who discovers the adulterous act, acknowledging it as a normal human reaction to kill in a burst of passion upon such a discovery.
NOT MARRIED BUT WITH A CHILD
Though the couple involved in this controversial love triangle is not married, the fact that they were live-in partners for years already and have a six-month-old child is enough basis for Rios to use the above cited statute as a potent defense.
But he must hire the best lawyer in town to dribble his case.
The case of murder per se filed by the police against Rios is disputable. It may take a long time before it will be decided by the court.
But Rios, the suspect, can explore all the legal remedies.
ADULTERY
Let it be known that passion is the very evil in adultery.
On the other hand, adultery is said to be the democracy to love.
Quite tricky to fathom. But one thing is sure based on what Italian author Natalia Ginzburg had said: “No adultery is bloodless.”/PN
