THREE men were killed in separate incidents on All Saints’ Day in San Francisco town, Carcar City and Cebu City.
The fatalities were identified as Romulo Nudalo Barrientos and Edelaido Gemoya Aldaya. The other victim was an unidentified man, who was stabbed dead at 7:30 p.m. inside the Fuente Osmeña Rotunda in Cebu City.
The motives behind the killings were personal grudges between the victims and perpetrators.
Despite these incidents, police described the observance of All Saints’ Day and All Souls’ Day in Cebu and other provinces in Central Visayas as peaceful.
The Cebu City Internal Affairs Service (CIAS) conducted surprise inspections on police officers deployed in cemeteries and terminals.
Chief Insp. Rubin Cuizon, acting CIAS head, said most of the personnel were alert and stayed in their respective posts. He observed that the minor infractions were personnel using their cellphones and tablets while on duty.
“How can you be considered effective in the given task of ensuring the security and safety of the public if you are busy tinkering with your cell phone and tablet?” he said.
At 6:30 p.m., Barrientos was attacked in Barangay Hemensolan, San Francisco, Camotes. Initial investigation showed that Barrientos was on his way to his house when the perpetrator stopped him and shot him several times.
Barrientos managed to run, but he fell to the ground after a few meters and died. Police recovered seven empty shells of a caliber .9mm pistol in the crime scene.
On P. Nellas St., Barangay Poblacion 3, Carcar City, Aldaya, 60, was shot dead at 5:30 p.m. Aldaya’s neighbor Emilio Satinitigan Solon Jr., 43, was also shot but he survived the incident.
The suspect, identified as Johnrich Alcuizar, fled after the incident. Investigation showed the victims were having a drinking spree outside a store before the shooting happened. Alcuizar appeared and shot the victims several times. KAL