A closed-circuit television (CCTV) footage showed men standing in front of a vehicle. Moments later, one of them punched a half-naked man. Another man pulled out a gun and fired at the victim a few times. The other man was seen pulling out a gun and shooting the victim several times.
The victim was already sprawled on the ground, but the suspects continued firing at him.
In another video, the victim was seen face to the ground, motionless.
The incident happened in Barangay Ungka II (Dos) in Pavia town, Province of Iloilo at around 9 p.m. on April 3, 2025.
The victim was identified as Wilmer Villarosa, reportedly a personal driver of Land Transportation Office (LTO) 6 Director, Atty. Gaudioso Geduspan, while the suspects were identified as siblings Jester and Jessie Machinal.
It was learned that the suspects are neighbors of the victim’s boss, Geduspan.
The siblings fled after the shooting on board a getaway vehicle but were apprehended at a checkpoint in the Municipality of Sara, Iloilo.
The suspects were bound for Sara as a relative lives reportedly in the said town.
Bloodstains were still visible on the garment and flipflops of the suspects when they were arrested but their weapons were not recovered.
“Na-corner ang sasakyan at na-flag down at napababa natin ang suspects at dito na nag-conduct tayo ng questioning. Sabi nila, mula sila sa Pavia,” according to Major Jose Nemias Pamplona, chief of Sara Municipal Police Station.
Based on police investigation, Villarosa was standing idly outside of his boss’ house when the suspects approached him.
A confrontation ensued purportedly between the driver and the siblings that led to the shooting incident.
An old grudge is seen by the authorities as a possible motive that could have fueled the slay.
“Mga personal grudge ngunit i-finalize pa natin in the course of the investigation,” Major Harold Rendora, chief of Pavia Municipal Police Station, said.
The suspects did not grant an on-camera interview, but they said that Villarosa had glowered at them too many times. They said they could not stand anymore how the victim would stare fiercely at them.
The two disclosed that they had earlier reported twice to the Pavia Municipal Police Station complaints on unjust vexation and grave threat against the victim.
However, Rendora said that the victim has no records with them. There is information on complaints against him but this is yet verified, he added.
The father of the suspects was surprised by the incident.
He said he learned of the incident only when his sons were already at the Sara Police Station.
“Nakausap ko siya, susuko naman sa police station sa Sara. Yun lang naman ang sinabi niya,” said Jessie Machinal Sr., father of the suspects.
GMA Regional TV One Western Visayas tried to reach for a comment from Geduspan on the shooting to death of Villarosa, but he is out of his office and has not responded to the news team’s calls.
The Pavia Police are set to file murder charges against the Machinal siblings.
