A man was shot multiple times by his own drinking buddy in Santa Barbara, Iloilo.

The shooting happened at the Service Road in Barangay Camambogan evening on January 31, 2026.

The victim was identified as “Lemuel,” 40 years old. He was pronounced dead on arrival at a hospital in Santa Barbara.

The suspect, alias “Jet,” is 39 years old.

Both are from the same barangay.

The two figured in a fight allegedly because of a cellphone.

“Regarding rin sa cellphone ng suspect na nasa possession ng victim. Parang hindi rin ma-establish kung ano ang regarding sa cellphone,” said Lt. Christopher Juarez, deputy chief of the Santa Barbara Municipal Police Station.

The two were reportedly from a bar.

Police recovered from the suspect an unlicensed 45-caliber pistol. The suspect failed to provide supporting documents in relation to gunholding.

Five empty shell were recovered from the crime scene.

“Ang baril ng suspect subject for verification pa. Itinurn-over na natin for ballistics and review kung may nagmamay-ari ng naturang 45-caliber pistol,” Juarez added.

According to the autopsy, the victim sustained four gunshot wounds on the upper part of his body.

It was established that the two are friends.

Police said that it was the suspect who called up the victim to come over to his house morning on January 31. In the afternoon, the victim arrived and that the two reportedly started having a drink.

In the evening, they transferred to a bar.

The suspect gave an initial statement to the police that he was drunk when he did the crime. However, he refused an interview with GMA Regional TV One Western Visayas.

His mother also declined from giving a statement to the news team.

When he had to come face to face with the father of the victim, the suspect apologized. But Lemuel’s family is bent on filing a case against him.

“Sabi ko ‘to, namatay sya ‘to. Kung hindi sana namatay, maaari akong magpatawad. Tao lang naman ako,” Joe, the father of the victim, said.

The suspect is detained at the Santa Barbara Municipal Police Station and is set to face a case for murder with the use of an unlicensed firearm.