Over a joke, security guard shoots fellow guard dead in Dumaguete City

Security Guard Adelfo Estilloso is detained at the Dumaguete City Police Station after he shot his co-worker, Gustavo Catubay, allegedly over a joke. PHOTO BY SYRIL REPE

DUMAGUETE CITY - What started as a fun chitchat ended in tragedy as a security guard shot and killed his co-worker Tuesday afternoon near the bank they were working in this city.

The cause of the shooting—a joke.

Initial investigation by the Dumaguete PNP showed that the victim, 37-year-old Gustavo Catubay, was having lunch with the suspect, 33-year-old Adelfo Estilloso and fellow guards.

While they were having lunch, they were conversing and exchanging jokes, police records show.

In the middle of their conversation, a black joke was reportedly uttered, provoking Catubay to punch Estilloso. In retaliation, Estilloso shot the former with his agency-issued shotgun.

Catubay was then rushed to nearby Holy Child Hospital but later died due to his injuries, investigator SPO2 Alter Esturas of the Dumaguete PNP told GMA News.

The suspect surrendered to the Dumaguete Police Station after the incident and is currently detained there. When he faced the local press, he cried and asked Catubay's family for forgiveness.

As of this posting, the police has not yet determined the motive of the incident other than the exchange of jokes.

Homicide charges are set to be filed against Estilloso. — BAP, GMA News