Tuesday, October 07, 2008 Shooting rampage By Allan I. Varquez & Mia E. Abellana Sun.Star Staff Reporters
A Korean national shot dead the wife of his business partner and the Filipino manager of the restaurant he co-owned then turned the gun on himself in Barangay Pusok, Lapu-Lapu City yesterday morning.
The shooting was preceded by an intense altercation between Korean nationals Hyo Sik Woo and Kong Young Bae, co-owners of Blue Marine Sea Foods located near the foot of the Marcelo Fernan Bridge.
Woo fired four shots at Bae but failed to hit him in a chase, then turned his ire at Bae’s wife, Korean national Kim Kil Bok, 46, and the restaurant’s Filipino manager Joel Molo before also shooting himself dead.
Elsewhere in the province, a Japanese national was shot dead by his brother-in-law in Compostela town while a German national was shot and wounded by three men who robbed his house in Asturias.
The Lapu-Lapu City incident shocked the Korean community in Cebu but one of its leaders described it as an isolated case and does not reflect the culture and attitude of the Korean people.
Charlie Shin, vice chairman of Korean Community Association in Cebu, said however that they were baffled as to how Woo acquired a handgun, which is prohibited for a foreigner under Philippine law.
Police recovered at the crime scene Woo’s .45 pistol and eight bullet shells, three deformed slugs, one empty magazine and one live bullet that fell on the ground.
A shotgun at the cashier’s booth belonging to the nightshift guard of the restaurant was also taken for investigation.
Shin said the Korean Embassy in Manila will send Korean police attaché Dae Young Seo to Cebu to monitor the progress of the investigation and facilitate the return of the bodies of Woo and Bok to Korea.
Police said the altercation between Woo, 60, and Bae, 59, stemmed from a business partnership that had turned sour.
Woo suspected that Bae planned to ease him out of Blue Marine, which they both put up after years of staying in Cebu, when he put his wife as part of the business’ think tank.
Woo reportedly had been frequenting the casino.
Argument
A police investigation report said Woo went to the restaurant ahead of Bae, who later arrived together with his driver Cristopher Udtohan.
Raffy Bulambao, who was delivering some kilos of crabs, was near the glass box when he noticed Woo and Bae arguing.
He could not hear their voice, though, because a glass wall separated him from the two.
He then saw Woo pull out a handgun and fire at Bae, but missed. The bullet pierced the chair and the wall of the restaurant.
Bae rushed out through the right side door and was chased by Woo, who fired three more shots and missed until the former reached his car.
Udtohan said that after helping Bae get into the car, he thought of rescuing Bok using the front door but withdrew when he heard several shots fired.
He drove the car together with Bae to the Lapu-Lapu City Police Office to report the incident.
Gas tank
Unknown to them, Woo had returned to the restaurant and shot Bok and Molo before shooting himself in the head.
Bok succumbed from three gunshot wounds in the body and one in the buttock. Molo had gunshot wounds in the body and chest.
Before shooting himself, Woo filled the restaurant with gas by opening the valve of four LPG tanks.
Lapu-Lapu City Police Director Mariano Natuel believed that Woo intended to burn the place and thought that when he fired the gun on his head the gas would burst in flame.
“It was a miscalculation because the two windows in the kitchen were open reducing the gas accumulation inside the restaurant,” Natuel said.
All three sprawled near each other in front the cashier’s booth.
“He (Woo) had the intention to kill and to end his life as well. Mora og puno na gyod to siya sa kasuko,” homicide investigator SPO2 Rolito Jumao-as said.
Natuel said Woo’s Filipina wife, Lorna Ople, confirmed that her husband had occasional quarrels with Bae and that there was a time that Woo uttered grave threats against Bae.
Taxicab
In Compostela, Yasuake Matsuura died from a single gunshot wound in the head after he was shot at 8:50 p.m. Sunday, in Little Marikina, Sitio Lutaw, Barangay Estaca.
Witnesses pointed to Christopher Cortes Tariman as the perpetrator. PO1 Sevelito Jopia of the Compostela Police Station said the two were seen arguing before Tariman allegedly grabbed a .45 pistol and shot Yasuake.
A manhunt was launched against Tariman since Sunday night.
Yesterday afternoon, the Compostela police picked up Tariman in an undisclosed establishment after they received surrender feelers in the morning.
Cebu Provincial Police Office Director Carmelo Valmoria said even if Tariman admitted to the crime, they will still submit the recovered .45 pistol to the Regional Crime Laboratory for a ballistics exam and will have Tariman undergo a paraffin test.
The two reportedly quarreled over the sale of Yasuake’s taxicab.
The taxicab was sold in the name of Tariman and they reportedly could not agree on the amount.
A murder charge is being prepared against Tariman.
Yasuake’s wife, who is also Tariman’s sister, is still in Japan.
Three men
In Asturias, Marx Herbert Guter is still recuperating at a hospital following the gunshot wound he suffered in the chest.
This was after three men barged into his house in Sitio Quarry, Barangay San Roque, Asturias Sunday night.
Though the initial report received was that they were robbed, police are studying other possible motives.
Valmoria said they were still unable to ascertain what items were taken because Guter’s wife is still at the hospital taking care of him.
The couple was reportedly in the kitchen preparing a meal when the three men barged inside.
