Widower, who attacked lawyer, 2 others in Compostela town, charged with frustrated murder

CEBU CITY, Philippines — The 75-year-old widower, who was responsible for the attack in Compostela town of a lawyer, his live-in partner, and their caretaker allegedly due to land dispute, has been charged with frustrated murder.

Patrolman Alven Morino, desk officer at the Compostela Police Station, told CDN Digital in a phone interview that the case was filed on Tuesday, August 8, 2023.

READ: Land dispute seen as motive behind attack on lawyer, partner in Compostela, Cebu

Widower undergoes inquest proceedings

Morino said that the suspect, Fortunato Rosales, who was detained at the Compostela Police Station, underwent inquest proceedings on Wednesday, August 9.

Rosales was arrested by police for allegedly shooting two persons and stabbing one other inside the victim’s house in a gated subdivision in Barangay Estaca, Compostela town on Monday morning, August 7.

READ: 75-year-old man arrested for attacking three people, including a lawyer, in Compostela

How it happened

At 8:25 a.m on Monday, Rosales visited the house of lawyer, Emmanuel Pacquiao, and shot the victim in the leg when he came out to face him, said Police Executive Master Sergeant Oliver Pilapil Rondina of the Compostela Police Station.

The victim’s live-in partner, Warlita Kintanar, 49, was also shot in the leg. While the couple’s caretaker identified as Jenalyn Lao, was allegedly stabbed by Rosales multiple times before he fled the scene.

READ: Daanbantayan shooting update: Alleged links to drugs eyed in killing of man, minor 

Land dispute

In an earlier report, the investigator assigned to the case, Police Senior Staff Sergeant Roland Alo, said that the alleged suspect  and his deceased wife, when she was still alive, previously sought Pacquiao for assistance in dealing with their land in San Fernando town in southern Cebu.

However, the suspect attacked Pacquiao when he got angry upon learning that the latter allegedly sold their land without informing him.

Pacquiao, for his part, denied Rosales’ claim and said that there was no buyer yet for the land.

Transferred to another hospital

Meanwhile, Morino said that the victims were also in  stable condition and had requested a transfer to a private community hospital in Cebu. 

Compostela is a third-class municipality located approximately 31 kilometers north of Cebu City. | Mary Godinez, CTU Intern