Man shot dead in Caloocan over billiards bet

An altercation allegedly over a bet in a billiards game in Caloocan City turned into a shooting incident leaving one person dead. 

Security cameras captured the incident where the gunman was seen firing on a victim multiple times at close range, killing him on the spot. 

“Nung tinignan po namin ang scene naka-recover po kami ng siyam na basyo ng bala, 45-caliber po sya,” said Police Captain Zoilo Lopez. 

The victim was identified as Mark Martin. The suspect, who has already been identified by the police is in hiding.

“Hindi po kami titigil hangga’t hindi po namin ito mahuli itong tao na gumawa ng krimen,” Lopez said.

A witness told GMA Integrated News the trouble began when the victim asked the suspect if he wanted to bet on a billiards game that they were watching. The suspect refused, said the witness. The verbal tussle then ensued between the two. 

According to the witness the father of the suspect, who was at the pool table, tried to calm things down and asked his son to step out of the room.

“Inawat na ng tatay, hinila sya (Jose Dwight) palabas eh ano po sinundan pa ni Mark. Hinamon na po ng suntukan eh yun pala may dalang baril yung tao,” the witness recounted. 

The eyewitness account matched the initial findings of the police investigation on details of the conflict. 

“Nagkapikunan lang sa taya ito,” Lopez said. 

Nadine Mallari-Martin, the victim’s wife, is seeking justice. The tragic shooting left five kids fatherless. 

“Marami po syang kinuha sa amin hindi lang buhay ng asawa ko, inalisan nya ng tatay ang mga anak ko, inalisan nya ako ng asawa,” she said in tears. —With Sherylin Untalan/LDF, GMA Integrated News