Police have arrested the suspected gunman and mastermind behind a shooting in Sityo Tabok Sapa, Barangay Jaclupan, Talisay City, on Friday, April 24, 2026, which killed a father and wounded his 14-year-old daughter.
The victim, Ritchard De Lima, 50, died in the attack, while his daughter Aisa Jaberina, 14, was injured.
The arrested gunman was identified as Rey Diopilo Alcover, 28, a resident of Barangay Labangon, Cebu City. He was apprehended in Yellow Ville, Barangay Kalunasan, Cebu City, on the evening of Monday, April 27, 2026.
The operation was led by Police Lieutenant Colonel Homobuno Sayon, chief of the Talisay City Police Station, in coordination with the Guadalupe Police Station.
Recovered from the suspect were a .45 caliber pistol with a magazine containing four bullets, a jacket, a white helmet used in the crime, and a black Honda Beat motorcycle with plate number G5Z468.
According to Sayon, CCTV footage from the area was instrumental in identifying the suspect.
After Alcover was arrested, he pointed to the person who ordered the attack, leading to the arrest of Junrey De Lima Tabay, 23, who is the nephew of the victim De Lima.
Despite his arrest, Junrey denied that his uncle was the intended target. He claimed the target was a person sitting behind his uncle who was playing a computer game, but the gunman mistakenly shot the wrong person.
Sayon revealed that the motive for the crime was personal grudge and drugs. The intended target allegedly had involvement in illegal drugs.
“Initially, there was a personal grudge between the one who ordered the shooting and the target, but the wrong person was hit,” Sayon explained.
The two suspects are now facing charges of murder and frustrated murder and are currently detained.
