SDA treasurer slay suspect surrenders

Cagayan de Oro City — The suspect in the fatal shooting of the treasurer of a local Seventh-day Adventist (SDA) Church compound surrendered to authorities Friday, a police official reported.

Police Capt. Emelito Simon of the Cagayan de Oro City Police Office confirmed the suspect is now in custody and has admitted to the killing. Simon, however, declined to identify both the suspect and the victim, stating the motive appeared to be a personal grudge.

Investigation revealed the suspect was waiting at the church’s parking area on Julio Pacana Street in Barangay 21 Thursday morning. When the treasurer arrived in a van, the suspect reportedly pulled out a pistol and shot the victim multiple times.

After the shooting, the suspect fled in a red Toyota, first threatening a security guard on duty to “enter fire,” police said.

A son of the victim indicated in a radio interview that the incident may have stemmed from prior issues.

He said that during the investigation, it was disclosed that the church had reportedly expelled the suspect as an SDA member and barred him from performing church duties. The victim had also reportedly filed a case of grave threat against the suspect before the shooting incident occurred.

The suspect remains in police custody pending formal charges.