The suspect in the fatal shooting of a Seventh-Day Adventist Church treasurer is now in police custody. Chosen Gem Abesta, 37, allegedly shot Benjamin Vargas Mendez, 65, with a .45 caliber pistol inside the SDA North Central Mindanao Conference compound in Puntod, Cagayan de Oro City, on November 6, 2025. After the incident, Abesta initially fled but surrendered later to the CIDG-10 headquarters in Camp Evangelista and turned over the firearm. Police said the shooting may have been fueled by a personal grudge, following prior disputes between the two. Authorities are preparing to file a murder case against the suspect.
Meanwhile, the victim’s son revealed in an interview that the suspect had been terminated after the victim uncovered certain anomalies. He also claimed that his father had received death threats from the suspect prior to the incident.
Shown below is the suspect during an interview a few months ago in June 2025, where he discussed his complaint.
UPDATE: The SDA North-Central Mindanao Conference issues official statement.
