Ex-cop kills family
Gunshots pierced the silence in Barangay Valladolid, Carcar City early yesterday morning and, in a matter of minutes, the whole family of a former cop lay on the floor of their house lifeless.
Police say Joel Lopez killed his wife, son, and stepdaughter before shooting himself. All of them sustained a gunshot wound to the head.
Joel and his wife, Jelyn, were 36 years old. Their son, Myir, was 8, while their stepdaughter, Angel May Lapina, was 12.
Investigation revealed that the couple had a heated argument at around 5 a.m. and, moments later, their neighbors heard gunshots from the Lopez’ house.
It was Joel's grandfather, Francisco Belamido, who went to the house and found the whole family covered in their own blood.
Police recovered an M16 rifle and six empty bullets from the crime scene.
TROUBLES
SPO2 Irving Avila told The FREEMAN that Joel was facing a case for serious neglect of duty for his failure to appear in a court hearing.
He was reportedly removed from service last September 2, 2013. His last assignment was at the Drug Enforcement Unit of the Lapu-Lapu City Police.
Joel's aunt, Divina dela Calzada, told dyLA in an interview that Jelyn was kicked out from the pawnshop where she was working after an audit revealed a deficit in earnings of about P30,000. Jelyn was the vault custodian.
The pawnshop management reportedly told Jelyn she would face charges if she would fail to return the money.
It was Dela Calzada who helped Jelyn get work at the pawnshop.
The couple's neighbors and relatives say it is possible that the couple used the money. Lopez reportedly went to Manila recently to appeal his case before the Civil Service Commission.
GOOD MAN
Avila, as well as neighbors of the family, said Joel was a good man and was a good police officer and may have just been overwhelmed by the financial difficulties the family was facing.
"As a police officer, buotan na siya, hilomon, ug asset sa organization. Wala lang siya kasugakod sa ilang financial problem," Avila says.
Belamido said his grand son did not have any vice.
Joel reportedly disappeared for a year after he was removed from services and when he eventually returned home, he attended to his children and assisted them in their studies.