Monday, March 06, 2006
Newspaper vendor gunned down in Lahug
By Jovy S. Taghoy
CEBU CITY -- A newsboy who was once jailed for a theft case in the Bagong Buhay Rehabilitation Center was killed vigilante-style Sunday morning at the corner of Gorordo Ave. and Salinas Drive, Barangay Lahug, Cebu City.
Eduardo Cuestas Agas, 39, of Sitio Mojon, Banilad, Mandaue City died of multiple gunshot wounds in the head and body, after two motorcycle-riding masked men attacked him in front of his live-in partner at 7 a.m.
Agas, together with live-in partner Leny S. Acosta, 35, was selling newspapers along the street in front of JY Square Mall when attacked.
Acosta told homicide investigators led by Senior Police Officer 1 Zenaido Pastorfide that Agas had spent time in the city jail for a theft case but, once released, tried to reform himself.
Agas, who also worked as a part time habal-habal driver, was sitting on his motorcycle when the assailants, on board a blue motorcycle, arrived. The man riding at the back immediately shot Agas several times.
The victim tried to run away, but the suspects caught up with him and finished him off.
The assailants fled toward Salinas Drive.
Acosta said the suspects covered their faces with cloth and wore helmets. The gunman was wearing a dark jacket.
Police investigators from the Scene of the Crime Operations recovered seven empty shells and two .45 slugs.
Last Feb. 27, a 15-year-old out-of-school youth was also killed vigilante-style at the corner of J.M. Basa and V. Rama Sts., Barangay San Nicolas, Cebu City.
Vincent B. Rizaba, alias "Inting," a resident in the barangay, died before reaching the Cebu City Medical Center.
Witnesses said four men, on board two motorcycles and wearing crash helmets, carried out the crime.
To kill Rizaba, the assailants used a .45 pistol, the kind of handgun the vigilantes use.
Since December 22, more than 120 people have been gunned down vigilante-style in the city.
Rizaba's death happened three days after two hooded men on a motorcycle gunned down 34-year-old Romulo Lumogda in Sitio Lahing-lahing Riverside, Barangay Mabolo, Cebu City.
Lumogda was playing a coin game locally known as "hantak" when shot.
Residents cried foul over the killing of Lumogda, whom they described to be a good man with no criminal record. Lumogda left four children with his wife. (Sun.Star Cebu)
(March 6, 2006 issue)
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