Tuburan councilor survives ambush

CEBU, Philippines — A lawyer and incumbent town councilor was injured after he was shot by two unidentified motorcycle-riding gunmen last night in Barangay Talamban, Cebu City.

The victim was identified as Tuburan town Councilor Renante Dela Cerna. He was riding a habal-habal driven by Romeo Mante when the two gunmen shot him outside Santorini Residences in Kadaohan, Talambanat around 7:30 p.m. Mante was also injured.

Another habal-habal driver who witnessed the shooting incident told the police that the gunmen were wearing face mask.

Homicide investigator PO3 Winston Ybañez said the victim sustained four gunshot wounds and is now in stable condition at the North General Hospital.

Ybañez said Dela Cerna was on his way home in La Cittadella Subdivision, Barangay Talamban after meeting a client.

Lawyer Elaine Bathan, IBP Governor, immediately denounced the shooting of a fellow lawyer.

“As in the past we yet again denounce the recent attack against our brother lawyer. As of press time the police is currently doing a hot pursuit and it is our hope that the person responsible would be arrested so he can be made answerable for such unlawful act,” Bathan said.

Tuburan Mayor Democrito Diamante asked the police to immediately arrest the culprits. Diamante believes that the ambush could be related to Dela Cerna’s work as a lawyer.

“Most likely related na sa iyang pagka abogado kay wala man na siyay kontra sa politika. Maayo nang tawo diri saTuburan,” Diamante told The Freeman.

Dela Cerna is the number one councilor of Tuburan and is now on his last term. He was captain of Barangay Putat before his election to the Municipal Council. (FREEMAN)