A suspected thief of fighting cocks committed the mistake of robbing a town councilor in Catigbian town. Instead of making off with three of fighting cocks owned by the councilor, the suspect instead ended up dead.   Initial reports said the suspected thief was shot dead by Councilor Virgilio Lurot in Catigbian town. The victim was identified as a certain Rey Ombahin, 21, a native of Poblacion Norte, Carmen town. Catigbian Mayor Roberto Salinas told Station DyTR that the incident took place about one o'clock dawn last Sept, 17. Lurot claimed that he noticed the presence of intruders into his yard where his fighting cocks were being kept.

The councilor said he saw a man in the act of putting three fighting cocks under his jacket. Lurot immediately fired his gun into the air to scare away the unidentified intruders. He said two suspects managed to flee from his yard after hearing the warning shot but one of them turned on him. When Lurot realized that the suspect was about to stab him with a fan knife (batangas) the town dad fired his gun at the attacker.   Aside from the knife, the slain suspect also yielded a .22 caliber hand-gun in his possession. Ombahin was identified by his mother who claimed the body of the suspect after the incident. Insp. Jovito Tampos, Catigbian PNP chief, said Lurot has been placed under the custody of the mayor while awaiting the filing of any case in connection with the shooting.    Tampos said it was possible that the victim's companions were the ones who informed his mother about the death of Ombahin. He said they are also looking into the possible involvement of the group in other thefts in the town.