Cagayan de oro: A pastor from the Seventh-day Adventist (SDA) Church is now in police custody following the fatal shooting of the church's treasurer. Pastor Chosen Gem Abesta, aged 37, from Manticao, Misamis Oriental, surrendered after allegedly killing 65-year-old Benjamin Mendez. The incident took place at the SDA compound shortly before 9 a.m. on Thursday.

According to Philippines News Agency, the SDA North-Central Mindanao Conference (NCMC) released a statement confirming Abesta had surrendered to the police. The NCMC strongly condemned the act of violence, emphasizing their belief in the sanctity of life and expressing the profound pain the incident has caused within their church community.

Police investigations suggest that internal issues may have motivated the shooting. Abesta had reportedly raised concerns about his service benefits in an online video, which might have contributed to the tragic event. The victim, Mendez, sustained a fatal gunshot wound from a .45-caliber pistol, leading to his immediate death.

Capt. Emelita Simon, spokesperson for the Cagayan de Oro City Police Office, reported that Abesta initially fled the scene but later turned himself in at the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group-Northern Mindanao headquarters in Cagayan de Oro.