Hermosa, Philippines - The leader of a religious sect in Bataan province was shot dead as he watched TV in his bedroom Thursday night in Barangay Sacrifice Valley here, police said.
Police said a lone gunman climbed the grilled window of the room and shot Jose Benjamin Teruel, 63, administrator and leader of the Church of the Most Holy Trinity sect.
Teruel’s wife, Cora, who was also in the room, was not hurt.
The victim was the older brother of John Florentine Teruel, “founding bishop” of another religious sect, the Apostolic Catholic Church, based in Quezon City.
Investigators said they were looking into a personal grudge as a possible motive of the killing.
Residents said a feud developed between the eight Teruel siblings when their mother, “Sister” Virginia Leonzon Teruel, died in May 2005.
The Teruel siblings have since parted ways, trading accusations among each other.
The feud also prompted John Florentine to establish his own church.
Residents in the 25-hectare Sacrifice Valley were also affected by the feud.
Some of them joined the Apostolic Catholic Church of John Florentine while others remained with Jose Benjamin.
The victim's wife, who is a village official here, said her husband had been receiving death threats but had ignored them.