Cellphone technician gunned down in Bulacan over alleged love triangle

• A cellphone technician was fatally shot multiple times outside his shop in Plaridel, Bulacan, by a man identified as his close friend
• Police investigation points to a personal grudge stemming from the victim's alleged secret affair with the suspect's girlfriend
• After a hot pursuit, the suspect was tracked down and captured in Cabanatuan, Nueva Ecija, by Bulacan operatives
• The murder weapon was revealed to be an undocumented firearm purchased online, leading to additional charges for the suspect

When friendship is tested by the complicated threads of a love triangle, the results can be devastating.

This past weekend, the quiet town of Plaridel, Bulacan, became the backdrop for a tragic story of betrayal and violence that has left one man dead and another behind bars.

On Saturday evening, the routine peace in front of a local cellphone repair shop was shattered.

According to the investigation led by Plaridel Police Chief P/Lieutenant Colonel Jerome Jay Ragonton, the incident began when a man pulled up in his car outside the shop.

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What started as a heated argument between the driver and the shop's technician—who were known to be friends—quickly escalated beyond words.

Witnesses recounted a harrowing scene where the suspect exited his vehicle, and as the shouting intensified, he allegedly drew a firearm.

In a burst of violence, several shots were fired, striking the technician in various parts of his body.

Despite the immediate response of bystanders, the victim succumbed to his wounds right at the doorstep of his own livelihood.

In the wake of the shooting, investigators began piecing together the "why" behind such a brutal act between companions.

"Ang tinitignan natin dito is love triangle. Personal grudge. Kumbaga itong victim natin is parang mayroon silang illicit affair nung girlfriend," stated Ragonton.

Initial reports suggest that the suspect discovered an alleged illicit relationship between his girlfriend and the victim.

This perceived betrayal by a friend is believed to be the catalyst for the fatal encounter.

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Following the shooting, the suspect fled the scene, prompting a hot pursuit operation by Bulacan authorities.

While the getaway vehicle was recovered early on at the suspect's residence, the man himself had already vanished.

The search eventually led police to Cabanatuan City, Nueva Ecija, where the suspect was apprehended.

During the arrest, authorities recovered a firearm that they believe was used in the crime. Notably, the weapon was found to have been purchased online and lacked any legal documentation or permits.

The suspect now faces heavy legal consequences, including charges of murder and illegal possession of firearms.

While the suspect has remained silent in detention and his family has declined to comment, the community is left grappling with how a friendship could end in such a permanent and public tragedy.

In other news, three members of the City of Naga’s Sinulog dance contingent were violently targeted during a pre-dawn practice at the Barangay Luz Elementary School gymnasium on January 4, 2026. The victims suffered serious trauma to their heads and faces, with one performer requiring immediate surgical intervention to address a severe injury to the eye area. Police have taken five local youths into custody—one adult and four minors—who allegedly ambushed the dancers following a petty disagreement involving a basketball game and perceived insults. Mayor Nestor Archival has condemned the "isolated" brawl and assured the public that security will be significantly bolstered at all dancer billeting quarters to ensure a peaceful Sinulog 2026 grand parade.

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Still in other news, Rodel Cyrus Dela Rosa, a local resident of Sison, Pangasinan, recounted the emotional moment he discovered a disoriented Sherra de Juan along a bypass road and offered her the means to call for help. De Juan, who had been missing since December 10, was found 19 days later in a disheveled state, claiming she had been mindlessly walking and hiding until she reached the northern province. The Samaritan provided the exhausted woman with food, water, and a safe place to rest before she was finally reunited with her family and fiancé, Mark Arjay Reyes, on December 29. While the QCPD has officially closed the search, the case remains "inactive" rather than solved, as investigators continue to look for evidence of potential foul play or the "two men" Sherra mentioned in her inconsistent early statements.

Source: KAMI.com.gh