Mistaken identity eyed in shooting teen

CEBU, Philippines - A 16-year-old boy was shot dead by two unidentified riding-in-tandem suspects while playing computer games in an internet café in Barangay Manatad in Sibonga, southern Cebu Monday afternoon.

Elmer Abanga, a resident of Barangay Bae in the same town, succumbed to gunshot wounds to his neck, chest and left arm.

According to Police Officer 3 Ederlino Bacusmo, the suspects on board a motorcycle suddenly stopped in front of the computer shop and the back rider, whose face was covered with a shirt, approached the victim and shot him several times.

Bacusmo said Abanga’s several gunshot wounds led to his instantaneous death.

The suspects immediately sped off.

Abangan was with his friend during the shooting but the latter was able to flee to safety. Only the two of them were inside the internet café, he said.

Bacusmo said Abanga may have been a victim of mistaken identity, but they will be conducting further investigation to determine the motive of the crime.

He said the victim was known to be a good man.

“Wala man ni kontra’ng bataa. Ang among pagtuo kay basin naalaan siguro ni siya ug dili man gane kay naa ni nakit-an nga away sa pikas internetan. Didto man gud ni siya sa pikas internetan tigduwaan, bag-o ra ni siya diri,” Bacusmo said. (FREEMAN)