Trial for Bacaltos concludes with a verdict of guilt
Michael Vincent Bacaltos Found Guilty in 2019 Shooting Incident
Michael Vincent Bacaltos, a resident of Cebu City, has been found guilty of homicide in a 2019 shooting incident. The court sentenced him to an indeterminate prison term ranging from six years (prisión correccional) to 12 years (prisión mayor) on August 19, 2025.
The tragic incident occurred on January 21, 2019, outside Bacaltos' residence on J. Alcantara St., Barangay Sambag 1, Cebu City, at 6:20 a.m. Vanzant Navales, the victim, was shot by Bacaltos before Navales' gun was taken and fired. It remains unclear if Bacaltos was aware that Shaun, Navales' younger brother, had also been shot at the time.
The confrontation was related to their shared carracing hobby. Prior violent confrontations had occurred between Navales and Bacaltos' younger brother, Shaun, including a fight in July 2018.
Bacaltos admitted in a radio interview to having shot Navales multiple times, causing his immediate death. The court found Bacaltos guilty of homicide under Article 249 of the Revised Penal Code for the killing of Vanzant Navales.
The court ordered Bacaltos to pay a total of P100,000 in damages to the victim’s heirs. This includes a civil indemnity of P50,000 and another P50,000 as temperate damages, plus legal interest until full payment.
As of press time, Bacaltos has not responded to Cebu's request for a statement on the court ruling via Messenger. Vincent Navales, the victim's older brother, testified that their families were close but their relationship with Bacaltos soured due to an alleged incident involving Navales' former girlfriend.
Navales was armed with a 9mm pistol during the incident. The case stems from a bloody confrontation between former friends Bacaltos and Navales. Bacaltos pleaded not guilty when arraigned on February 1, 2019.
[1] "Bacaltos found guilty of homicide in 2019 shooting." The Philippine Star, 19 Aug. 2025. Web. 20 Aug. 2025.
[2] "Bacaltos sentenced to prison for 2019 shooting." SunStar Cebu, 19 Aug. 2025. Web. 20 Aug. 2025.
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