4 killed in separate shooting incidents

CEBU, Philippines — Four persons were killed in separate shooting incidents in Cebu City, Talisay City and Pinamungajan town yesterday and Thursday.

In Cebu City, policemen responded to a shooting alarm inside a bar located in Barangay Poblacion Pardo around 3:50 a.m. yesterday.

The victim was identified as Mario Cadinas Jr., 31, and a resident of the place. He was shot in the head.

Investigators recovered two empty shells of the said firearm from the crime scene.

Based on initial investigation of the Cebu City Police Office (CCPO) Homicide Section led by Senior Police Officer 2 Wetzel Berry, Cadinas went to the club with his friend Junhill Aranas, 24, also a resident of the barangay.

The two were invited to join the three suspects in a drinking spree. Of the three, one was identified as Jerry Vargas, 35, from Sitio Ciwak, Barangay Bulacao, while the two others were only identified as Inting and Niño.

Moments later, the three suspects went outside. The one referred to as “Inting” came back inside armed with a .45 caliber firearm and shot at Cadinas and Aranas.

Cadinas died instantly with a gunshot wound to the head, while the second gunshot missed Aranas.

Aranas threw an electric fan at Inting making the suspect lose his composure and sneak away together with the other two suspects.

Police are still conducting hot pursuit operations against the suspects.

Also in Cebu City, Luther Labares, 42, a lawnmower operator in a golf course club in Barangay Kasambagan, succumbed to a gunshot wound to his forehead past 3 p.m. yesterday.

Senior Police Officer 1 Winston Ybañez, Homicide Section investigator of CCPO, disclosed that as per witness accounts, that while Labares was driving his vehicle, they saw two unidentified men tailing the vehicle on foot.

Three gunshots were heard and the victim’s vehicle suddenly accelerating.

Moments later, the vehicle crashed into the glass door of a nearby car showroom.

The victim was later confirmed dead by attending medical responders.

Police are eyeing personal grudge as motive for the shooting.

The two witnesses were invited to the station to give physical descriptions of the assailants in order to come up with a facial composite.

Killed in Talisay

In Talisay City, a 38-year-old man was shot dead while he was playing hantak with friends in Barangay Tabunok past midnight on Thursday.

Tanny Casajuras, 38, a resident of Zone 3, Barangay Mohon, Talisay City, was hit in the left part of his chest and died on the spot.

Investigation shows that as Casajuras was playing hantak with his friends, the suspect, identified as Eugene Bacalso, 38, a resident of Sitio Mananga 1, Barangay Tabunok, suddenly arrived and shot at the victim.

Bacalso immediately left the area after shooting Casajuras.

Senior Police Officer 2 Cecilio Miñoza said they are eyeing personal grudge as the motive behind the incident.

Police recovered from the crime scene one empty shell from a 9mm firearm.

Operatives went to find Bacalso at his residence but he was nowhere to be found. They are continuing investigation to discover his whereabouts so they can place him under arrest.

Pinamungajan

In Pinamungajan, a meat stall operator was shot dead by an unidentified suspect inside the town's public market on Thursday afternoon.

The victim was identified by police as Renato Gepitulan, 65, a resident of Barangay Pandacan, Pinamungajan.

Initial investigation by operatives of Pinamungajan police disclosed that around 1:30 in the afternoon, the victim was in his meat stall inside the public market when a burst of gunfire was suddenly heard.

Gepitulan was then found by his employee lying on the floor bathed in his own blood.

Police Officer 1 Ryan Manguilimotan said that the victim sustained a single gunshot wound to the head.

Gepitulan was immediately rushed to the hospital but was declared dead on arrival by the attending physician.

Police are still conducting a follow-up investigation to determine the motive of the shooting and the identity of the suspect.

According to his family, Gepitulan had no enemies.

An empty shell from a .45 caliber firearm was recovered from the crime scene. — Mae Clydyl L. Avila,  Iris Mariani B. Algabre and Ermida Q. Moradas (FREEMAN)