Police are running after a man who was allegedly behind the early Sunday massacre of a family of three whose patriarch was said to have tipped off the Manila Electric Company (Meralco) on the suspect’s illegal electric connection or “jumper” a few months ago.
In a report to Northern Police District director Chief Supt. Antonio Decano, Senior Supt. Jude Wilson Santos identified the slain victims as Florencio Torres, his wife Milagros and 20-year-old daughter Marjorie who all sustained bullet wounds in their bodies. They were residents of Bagong Silang, Caloocan City.
A member of the family identified as Jonalyn, 13, was also shot in the body and is still undergoing treatment at a nearby hospital, Santos said in a text message to the Tribune.
Through witnesses and the surviving victim, police said one Charlie Balboa, a former neighbor, was allegedly behind the massacre which took place around 6 a.m.
He went into hiding after the attack with a .45 cal. pistol which was said to have been used by the suspect in the killing, Santos said.
Santos added he already instructed the station investigation division headed by Chief Insp. Rodrigo Soriano to get to the bottom of the shooting of the Torreses though initial investigation showed the motive could be an old grudge.
Police said prior to the killing, the suspect, who used to live in the area, left a few months ago after Meralco caught him with illegal electric connection.
Balboa suspected it was the elder Torres who tipped off Meralco about the electric pilferage the former had allegedly committed.
The ensuing grudge between the suspect and the victims was worsened by another incident as culled from a barangay blotter that occurred sometime last June 9  wherein the victims (Milagros and Marjorie) allegedly ganged up on Balboa’s wife Divina whom they hit with metal rods.
This further enraged the suspect who allegedly threatened to kill them to get even with them.
According to Jonalyn, he saw the suspect, armed with the pistol, barge in their house and attack them helplessly.
Santos said he immediately formed a special crack team to get Balboa who was believed to have sought refuge in nearby provinces.