Ex-Beneco general manager shot dead

 Police probe suicide, foul play 

LA TRINIDAD, Benguet – Police are now probing the death of a  former general manager of a power firm who was found shot dead here inside his vehicle at their residential compound early noon Wednesday.
      Police identified the victim as Gerardo P. Versoza, 64, who prior to his recent retirement, headed the Benguet Electric Cooperative and made it into one of the most lucrative and competitive power firms in the country in the Triple A category.

    Reports said the bloodied victim was found slumped inside the car at Barangay Alapang by his son Candido who rushed him to the Pines City Doctor’s Hospital.

     Police later received a call from the PCDH around 2:30 p.m. saying the victim was rushed to the hospital.

     Reports said initial police investigation revealed the victim was shot on the left side of his chest.

     Police were reportedly probing foul play, suicide among other motives in the death of Versoza.

      Beneco employees said they knew Verzosa as a religious and strong-willed person and could not have taken his life, but others said he could have been depressed following his retirement and after suffering a stroke.

      The body of the victim was brought to the La Paz Memorial Homes in Baguio City that day where he was interred overnight.

      Police did not say if the body was autopsied.

      A mass was held for the victim around 6:30 a.m. on Thursday.

      Around 8 a.m., the body was reportedly brought to the Sunset Funeral Services at Barangay Irisan where it was cremated.    

      The late Versoza is survived by his wife Gail and children Candido and Bianca.

      A statement from Verzosa’s family released Thursday read: “It is with a heavy heart and great sadness that we announce the untimely demise of our beloved Gerardo P. Verzosa. May he be remembered for all the lives he has touched and all the good that he has done. We appreciate everyone who wants to extend their comfort. Our family asks for prayers, respect, and privacy at this time. 

      Lawyer Delmar Carino, Beneco institutional department services department head also released a statement of the power firm on Verzosa’s death:

      “We in Beneco come with grief and deepest sorrow on the demise of our GM Gerardo Verzosa. It is depressing to learn that he has already left us. We lost a mentor and a GM who has guided us for years to be strong, steadfast and resilient. His death is a great loss that leads us to remember vividly who he was, what his thoughts were, his vision and his kind of undaunted leadership. 

      All of us in Beneco condole with the GM’s family. We will forever cherish him as our mentor, leader and an unparalleled general manager. We shed our tears for indeed, he came to us, taught us a lot and more importantly, touched our lives.

      We love you, GM Gerry. From the Beneco family.”

      Baguio City Mayor Benjamin Magalong, other officials and people from all walks of life also issued statements of support and condolences to Versoza’s family saying they mourned the death of a good and accomplished man.