Monday, July 18, 2005
3 weekend attacks pull death toll to 72
By Karlon N. Rama and Jovy S. Taghoy
CEBU CITY -- Two more people were shot dead in separate attacks over the weekend, bringing to 71 the number of suspected criminals killed vigilante-style in Cebu City.
Both victims--a pimp and a car watcher--spent time in the Bagong Buhay Rehabilitation Center. The pimp was gunned down an hour past midnight Sunday, while the car watcher, who was jailed for drugs years ago, was killed Saturday afternoon.
Another man, who had no criminal record, was also shot dead Saturday night while waiting for his wife near the Carbon market.
In Sunday’s vigilante-style killing, Amado Justiniani, 32, was shot repeatedly in Barangay Kamagayan, a few blocks from three barangay halls.
Justiniani’s wife Angelica, who said he worked as a pimp, witnessed the shooting.
He sustained multiple gunshot wounds--two in the base of the skull, one in his head and in the back portion of his left arm, dislocating his elbow.
Roger Uy, 51, a security guard taking a midnight snack in a nearby store, was also wounded in the left thigh. Bystanders brought him to the Cebu City Medical Center (CCMC), where he was still confined as of press time.
Red bike
Witnesses said two men on a red motorcycle, each wearing jackets, ball caps and handkerchiefs tied around their faces, perpetrated the shooting.
One gunman carried the shotgun while the other drove the motorcycle that came from Imus Road. After the shooting, they fled to Don Pedro Cui St. and headed towards A. Villanueva and R. Landon Sts.
The driver allegedly parked the bike in front of a computer shop located beside a bank, while the gunman got off, approached a group of pimps who were hanging out outside the store, and then began shooting.
One witness said the gunman didn’t appear to have a specific target because he shot indeterminately, prompting the group to run into the interior of Barangay Kamagayan. At least eight shots were fired.
The attack transpired only a few blocks from the barangay halls of Day-as, located near the Imus road; San Antonio, on Don Pedro Cui St.; and Kamagayan, located inside the Citicenter Market.
Slowest
Justiniani, already hit from the initial barrage of gunfire, ran the slowest. Witnesses narrated that the gunman merely walked towards Justiniani, who was staggering, and finished him off with two rounds to the back of the head.
Police recovered six empty .45 shells and a deformed slug. Some of the casings were head-stamped RPA, a brand of government-produced ammunition issued mainly to the military.
Other than that, homicide investigator Rey Cuyos admitted they have no clue that could lead to the identities of the assailant.
Nobody was also able to jot down the motorcycle’s plate number because the two streetlamps along Don Pedro Cui and that portion of P. del Rosario Sts. were busted.
The crime scene, Cuyos said, was also already contaminated when police arrived some 10 minutes after the incident.
Car watcher
In Saturday afternoon’s attack, Jimmy R. Candar, 27, a car watcher, was killed at 3:45 p.m. on P. Lopez St., Barangay Kalubihan.
Like Justiniani, Candar died of multiple gunshot wounds in his head and body.
Two men on board a red Aura motorcycle and wearing black helmets stopped in front of Candar, who was standing on a sidewalk on P. Lopez St., and shot him thrice with a .45 pistol.
Candar was hit in the left eye and neck. The bullets exited through his nape and chest.
The assailants immediately fled towards Borromeo St., while Candar was rushed to the CCMC. He died before reaching the hospital.
Responding policemen from the Mobile Patrol Group and homicide investigators led by SPO3 Zenaido Pastorfide recovered three empty .45 shells and a deformed slug.
Candar’s grandmother, Vicenta Rabago, 80, told investigators that the victim was jailed several years ago for a drug-related case.
Random
In the third incident, Francisco Villacencio, 33, was shot dead by a lone gunman at 7:30 p.m. Saturday at the corner of Lincoln and F. Gonzales Sts., Barangay Sto. Niño.
He died at 11:53 p.m.
Villacencio, who had no criminal record, was accompanying his wife Diosdada to the Carbon Market to buy vegetables when he was shot.
He was sitting on the pavement when the gunman casually approached and shot him several times. (Sun.Star Cebu/Sunnex)
(July 18, 2005 issue)
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