Friday, July 18, 2008
Bernard Liu stabbed after mediating conflict
CONGRESSIONAL whistle-blower Bernard Liu, who exposed his former employer’s alleged illegal drug business, was stabbed and seriously wounded during a scuffle in Sitio Rattan, Barangay Tanke, Talisay City last Wednesday night.
PO1 Jundave David, Talisay City police homicide prober, said the 47-year-old Liu is in the intensive care unit (ICU) of Chong Hua Hospital because of a single knife wound in the left side of his body.
Although he was still in the ICU, Liu was already in stable condition at press time, a source told Sun. Star Cebu.
Altercation
In a follow-up operation, David single-handedly arrested Jonas Turawan, 20, one of Liu’s assailants, outside his house in Sitio Upper Ebacan, Barangay Cansojong past 10 a.m. yesterday.
He said that Turawan admitted he conspired with his friend, Rufino Ardiente, 40, in attacking Liu.
But he denied he stabbed the victim, saying it was Ardiente who lunged at Liu with a kitchen knife around 6:50 p.m. Wednesday, David said.
Turawan confessed, though, that he punched and held Liu moments after the latter confronted him over an altercation with Lani Loqueloque, a trisikad driver, he said.
Confrontation
Loqueloque, Liu’s 42-year-old friend and errand boy, had already left the place when the scuffle occurred past 7 p.m. last Wednesday.
Prior to the stabbing, Loqueloque and Turawan had a verbal tussle after the latter’s mountain bike was inadvertently blocked by Loqueloque’s trisikad.
Loqueloque reportedly boxed Turawan, forcing him to seek the help of Ardiente, who at that time, was at Canton beach in Barangay Cansojong.
Retaliate
Ardiente is a resident of Sitio Coolboys, Barangay Lagtang, Talisay City.
Armed with a kitchen knife, Ardiente accompanied Turawan back to Sitio Rattan in Tanke where they met Liu, who was also inquiring at the scene.
A confrontation then ensued and both Turawan and Ardiente reportedly attacked Liu that ended in a stabbing incident, David said.
At large
The Talisay City Police homicide section was tracking down the whereabouts of Ardiente, who remained at large at press time yesterday.
David believed that the suspect has gone into hiding in his hometown in Asturias, Cebu.
Meanwhile, lawyer Clarence Paul Oaminal told Sun.Star that the district office of Rep. Antonio Cuenco (Cebu City, south) will shoulder Liu’s hospital expenses.
Businessman
It was Cuenco who summoned Liu to appear before the House inquiry amid reports that allegedly linked Cebu’s prominent businessman-brothers Peter and Wellington Lim to the illegal drug trade.
Cuenco, former chairman on the House committee on dangerous drugs, initiated the inquiry in Cebu.
Though he lives in Talisay, Liu has reportedly been working as a casual employee at the Cebu City Hall. (GC)
For Bisaya stories from Cebu. Click here. (July 18, 2008 issue)
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