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Saturday, October 06, 2007
3 killed in drive-by shootings
By Mia E. Abellana
CEBU CITY -- In what appeared to be a shooting spree, two men on a motorcycle began shooting at bystanders in three different areas of Cebu City Thursday night.
Three persons were killed, while four others were wounded after two men on a dark-colored motorcycle opened fire at them past 11 p.m.
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In all three incidents, the passenger was described as wearing a white T-shirt and white headgear. Based on the shells recovered from the three crime scenes, a .45 pistol was used in the shootings.
Police are checking reports that a fraternity was celebrating its anniversary Thursday and that a rival fraternity was getting back at them for a shooting incident that marred their own anniversary last year.
Cebu City Police Office Director Patrocinio Comendador said they are also looking into the possibility that a similar shooting two weeks ago was perpetrated by the same men, because of the similar pattern of the shootings.
Comendador met with the special unit commanders Friday afternoon to discuss other measures to prevent more shootings in the city.
He assured that his investigators are working on the case.
Asked if it was still safe for citizens to be out at night, Comendador said he would be biased if he answered this.
He said, though, that the best way to determine is to see if there were still people going out at night.
Regarding checkpoints as a way to catch illegal holders of firearms, Comendador said they did not hold these in just one place.
“Our checkpoints are moving. They are random. There are so many problems that we have to address. If you listen to our radio every night, the calls do not stop,” Comendador said.
The deputy regional director for operations, Senior Superintendent Drusilo Bolodo, also asked the public not to place the blame solely on the police for such incidents.
“Before these happened, those involved in these incidents came from their homes. We need the participation of the family and local officials. The tanods should also keep watch,” Bolodo said.
The first shooting happened along V. Gullas St. in Barangay San Roque.
Mhako Repello Buenconsejo, 18, was waiting for a ride home while Lawrence Morados, 22, was driving his motorcycle and happened to pass by.
Just then, two men on a dark motorcycle arrived.
The man in the white shirt began firing “indiscriminately” at a group of bystanders standing in front of The Freeman office before turning right to D. Jakosalem St.
Responding policemen rushed them to the Cebu City Medical Center (CCMC) but Morados was declared dead on arrival.
Buenconsejo suffered a gunshot wound on his neck. The shots also damaged a wall of The Freeman building.
Police collected three empty shells, a fired bullet and a deformed slug.
Minutes later, the same two people were seen on Sanciangko St. in Barangay Kamagayan where Jeffrey Solon Romano, 21, a nautical student of the University of the Visayas, was with some friends outside a bookstore when one of the two men fired at them.
Romano was wounded on his right thigh and right foot. His friends brought him to the CCMC.
Police gathered two bullets, two deformed slugs and four empty shells fired from a .45 pistol.
The two men then proceeded to Ascencion St. in Barangay Sambag I. There, they opened fire at Lord Stephen Pasco Vasquez, 18, William John Aznar, 24, and Rendon Pellerin, 18.
The three friends were drinking outside a store when the two men arrived and immediately began shooting.
Vasquez was wounded on the right side while Aznar had several wounds on his body. Pellerin was wounded on the left side of his chest, both legs and right thigh.
As the motorcycle fled to Uytengsu St., its riders ran into Rey Igot Gonzales, 24, who was on his motorcycle.
Gonzales was on his way to the Sacred Heart Hospital to bring money for his niece, who was confined for dengue fever.
The gunman continued with his shooting spree and aimed at Gonzales, hitting him on the right arm.
Vasquez, Aznar, Pellerin and Gonzales were brought to the Sacred Heart Hospital.
Vasquez succumbed to his wounds at 1:30 a.m. Friday while Aznar died 15 minutes later.
SPO1 Jay Yballe, the leader of the Homicide Section team that responded to the shootings, said they would not conclude if all the incidents were related.
However, he said the description of the gunman in all three incidents was the same.
To be sure, they are requesting the Regional Crime Laboratory to cross-match the empty shells found in the crime scenes to determine if these were fired from the same gun.
Yballe said they are also verifying reports that some of the victims who were shot at were members of the fraternity that was celebrating its anniversary that day.
Some two weeks ago, a motorcycle driver died while his companion was wounded after they were shot in Barangay Parian, after dropping by the red-light district. (Sun.Star Cebu)For more Philippine news, visit Sun.Star Zamboanga. (October 6, 2007 issue)
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