28-8-2023 (MANILA) Tragedy struck in Cainta, Rizal on a fateful Saturday afternoon as three barangay watchmen lost their lives, while two others sustained injuries in a violent rampage carried out by a 68-year-old former overseas Filipino worker.
The victims, identified as Roberto Donor, aged 51, Romeo Cortez, aged 55, and Ronnie Gonzales, aged 58, all served as watchmen for Barangay San Juan.
The alleged perpetrator, James Jazmines, met his demise in an exchange of gunfire with responding police officers, as confirmed by Col. Rainerio de Chavez, Rizal’s police director.
De Chavez revealed that Jazmines, armed with a rifle, unleashed a hail of bullets on his victims within a residential subdivision straddling the boundary of Taytay and Cainta.
The tragic sequence of events commenced with a complaint of physical assault filed by village resident William Celestino against Jazmines at the barangay hall. In a bid to address the matter, the watchmen accompanied Celestino back to the subdivision, where they received the assistance of security guard Bernard Sales.
Tragedy struck as the group passed by Jazmines’ residence, with the suspect allegedly opening fire on them.
The three watchmen succumbed to multiple gunshot wounds, while Sales was promptly transported to a nearby hospital for urgent medical attention.
Swift action was taken by the special weapons and tactics teams from the Cainta and Taytay police departments, who launched a pursuit of Jazmines.
Cornered by the officers, Jazmines purportedly refused to surrender and brandished his firearm, igniting a fierce exchange of gunfire that resulted in his demise and the wounding of Cpl. Glen Elzer Isagon.
