The hunt for the alleged “aswang (witch)” at Hacienda La Paz in Purok Langka, Brgy. Pacol, Bago City, ended Monday night in what the police said was an “accidental firing”.

The victim identified as Arlin Espejo, was hit in the chest when he was accidentally shot by his own cousin, Arnulfo Loson, who is now temporarily detained at the Bago police jail.

Espejo, 21, and Loson, 39, were among the hacienda residents and “siruhano (quack doctor),” who were patrolling the neighborhood, in response to rumors that an alleged “aswang”, was terrorizing the community at night for the past several days, investigations of the Bago police showed.

The victim and the suspect, in two groups, reportedly responded to a sound in a sugarcane field. While searching the area, Loson, who carried a .22 caliber air rifle, accidentally shot his cousin, Espejo.

Inspector Jerry Nacion, Bago police officer-in-charge, said Loson shot Espejo, whom he may have mistaken to be the “aswang”, because of the tense situation.

Meanwhile, Supt. Alexander Munoz reported the arrest of Richard Cassanuevo,37, at a police checkpoint ,in front of the public plaza of Victorias City, on Aug. 20.

Munoz, who is the Victorias police chief, said the arrest of Cassanuevo, who was riding in a motorcycle driven by John Elustrisimo, yielded a homemade .38 caliber revolver with six live ammunition.

Cassanuevo is now detained at the Victorias police jail.* GPB

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