Student shot dead inside university in Guimaras

ILOILO CITY: A 22-year-old female student was shot dead inside the Guimaras State University (GSU) in Buenavista town by her former boyfriend on Friday afternoon, January 19.

The suspect, Zoilo Sereño, is an employee of the Pulupandan Rural Health Unit and a resident of Barangay Zone 6, Pulupandan City, Negros Occidental.

Christine Mae Piamonte, the victim, is a resident of Barangay Cabungahan, San Lorenzo, Guimaras. She is a fourth-year Bachelor of Science in Business Administration at GSU.

Police authorities said Sereño and Piamonte had a three-year relationship but broke up in September last year.

Arriving from Pulupandan on a private pump boat, Sereño entered the university, claiming he would hand Piamonte her allowance. However, the suspect later revealed that his purpose was to confront Piamonte about their relationship.

Upon entering Room 3 of GSU’s Agri-Eco Building, the suspect allegedly caught Piamonte kissing her new boyfriend Ram Arlo Tacubay, prompting Sereño to fire his homemade caliber .38 revolver at Tacubay and Piamonte.

Tacubay, the musical director of the cultural presentation for the Palayag Festival on Sunday, sustained a graze wound on the head and a gunshot wound on the chest. Piamonte was hit on the head. Both victims were immediately taken to Buenavista Emergency Hospital, where Piamonte succumbed to her injuries at 8:53 p.m.

The Guimaras State University, in a statement on Friday evening, said the suspect was now detained at the Buenavista Municipal Police Station.

“The university is actively cooperating with the proper authorities in conducting a thorough investigation into the incident,” it added.