Fired from job, brothers shoot village guard dead

A security guard died after he pacified a verbal tussle between an employee of a construction company and two brothers who got mad after they were informed of their termination from work Saturday afternoon in barangay Tulay, Minglanilla town, south Cebu.

Charlie Muradas, 50, of Banawa, Cebu City, succumbed to seven gunshots — three in the back of his head and four in different parts of his body.

Muradas was the head security officer of Invincible Armada Security Agency and was detailed at Fonte di Versailles Subdivision in barangay Tulay, Minglanilla.

Suspects Edcel and Elmer Franza remained at large as of press time.

Chief Insp. Franco Rudolf Oriol, chief of Minglanilla Police Station, told Cebu Daily News that the Franza brothers were hired by the developer of the subdivision as civilian guards to look after the houses to prevent burglaries.

“They were hired since they are known toughies in the area and can handle the job well,” he said.

However, the subdivision recently hired the services of a security agency.

Last Saturday, the brothers and the slain guard were at the clubhouse where the office of Paramount Ventures, the developer of the subdivision, is located.

Rhea Rendon, one of the employees of the developer, was distributing the salary of the Franza brothers and told them that their last day of work was last Friday.

The two suspects got mad and engaged Rendon in a heated argument.

Muradas tried to pacify the suspects but he was several times instead.

Oriol said the brothers might have sensed their impending termination and entered the subdivision with guns, a security lapse.

Oriol added Muradas had reported to the police station a few weeks ago about disagreements between the developer and the Franza brothers.

Police recovered 11 empty shells of caliber .45 handgun from the crime scene.

Jose Batad, 27, and fellow security guard of the victim, saw the shooting while other witnesses scampered away.

Muradas’s remains were brought to Mount Olive Funeral Homes.

Oriol said they will file murder charges against the Franza brothers after gathering statements from witnesses.\