Sunday, August 03, 2008
Council member gets into trouble in bar
A DUMANJUG, Cebu town councilor suffered bruises after he was allegedly mauled at the Crossroads in Banilad, Cebu City past 3 a.m. yesterday.
Efren Guntrano “Gun-gun” Gica, however, was likewise accused of firing a gun and poking it at a Russian national and his Filipino companion during the incident.
Gica was taken to the Perpetual Succour Hospital for treatment after he was accosted for possessing a 9mm pistol.
His companion, 26-year-old Robert Guno of Hernan Cortes St., Mandaue City, was also invited to the police station.
A resident of Beverly Hills, Barangay Lahug, Gica, 27, was released by the police after he presented documents that allowed him to own the firearm.
He and Guno allegedly figured in a melee with Russian national Alexander Bubarin, 21, who is temporarily staying in a hotel on F. Ramos St., Cebu City, and Russel Rosales, 34, of Minglanilla town.
Initial information gathered by PO2 Emersion Isidro of Mabolo Police Station showed that Bubarin entered a bar at the Crossroads when Gica’s companion allegedly asked about his presence there.
This resulted in an argument, prompting Bubarin to just go back to where Rosales was.
Bubarin and Rosales then approached Gica’s companions, and this started a melee.
Gica allegedly stepped outside, got his gun from his car, poked the firearm at Bubarin, and then fired warning shots.
Gica gave himself up to responding Mobile Patrol Group policemen.
At the Mabolo Police Station, Gica presented pertinent papers showing that he was authorized to carry a gun.
Bubarin and Rosales, on the other hand, also went to a hospital for treatment.
The contending parties are expected to be invited for further investigation by the police.
In an interview with Sun.Star Superbalita, Gica claimed it was Bubarin who started the fracas and that he was never involved in the fight.
He said he fired his gun to stop the brawl between his friends and Bubarin’s group
Chased by several people, Bubarin allegedly ran inside K1 KTV from another bar.
“Nahadlok ko nga unsa unyay mahitabo niya. Akong gisugo ang guard nga motawag og taxi aron pasakyon (I feared what would have happened to him. So I asked the security guard to hail a taxicab for him),” Gica said.
He said two of Bubarin’s companions also went inside the bar, and one called somebody through a phone.
Minutes later, several men arrived in a taxicab and introduced themselves as “Manila police.”
Gica said one of his companions named Mark then waved his hand to catch Bubarin’s attention so he would approach.
It was then, he said, that the Russian’s companions attacked his group.
“Akong gikuptan ang hawak sa duha kay si Mark ila na mang gi-attack (I held two men by the waist so they would not attack Mark,” he said.
This, Gica said, caused the attackers to shift their attention to him so that he had to defend himself against six men.
He said he back-pedaled and fell when he snagged his foot on the parking area’s hump, giving the men the chance to kick him and stomp on him several times.
That, Gica said, resulted to bruises in his face, neck, back and ribcage.
Though assailed, he managed to get up and get his gun from inside his car.
“Pagkuha nako, mipasalba dayon kog kaduha aron mahunong ang away. Ako silang giingnan nga way away, way away (Once I got the gun, I immediately fired twice to stop the brawl. I told them not to fight),” Gica said.
He said he handed over his gun when the policemen arrived and even warned them that it was still loaded because he just fired it.
Gica, who had to spend a day at the hospital for several medical checkups, said he will sue his attackers. (JFT of Sun.Star Superbalita/With JST)
For Bisaya stories from Cebu. Click here. (August 3, 2008 issue)
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