In a tragic case of mistaken identity, an 83-year-old man shot and killed his granddaughter’s boyfriend in Valencia, Negros Oriental, believing he was a thief.
As reported on State of the Nation by Ian Cruz, the 36-year-old victim had visited his girlfriend’s home, and the two were chatting in the living room. He later entered her bedroom, unaware that her grandfather was sleeping inside. Startled awake, the elderly man mistook the victim for an intruder and opened fire.
The suspect has been arrested and charged with murder and illegal possession of firearms. Due to health concerns, including elevated blood pressure, he was not made available for interviews. The victim’s girlfriend has also remained silent on the matter.
The victim’s family has strongly denied any suggestion that he was a thief. His grandmother, Timotea Balolong, wept as she said, “Who will feed me now? You killed my grandson.” His brother, Jeoffrey Pioneta, added that although the victim had previous arrests, none were related to theft, and local officials could confirm he had no history of stealing.