One dead, 3 hurt Cebu City shootings

CEBU, Philippines - A man died while three others were injured in three separate shooting incidents that occurred within 24 hours in Cebu City.

Alvin Padilla Cabigon, 27, died after he was shot by his neighbor identified as Nelson Abala at around 6 p.m. last Friday at B. Aranas Extension in Barangay Duljo-Fatima.

Investigation showed that Cabigon was at the entrance of the gym where Abala was temporarily staying when the latter shot him several times before fleeing from the place.

Cabigon was hit on left side of his body and on his left shoulder. He was rushed to the Miller Hospital where he was declared dead minutes later.

Aljun Padilla, 50, uncle of the victim, told the police that the two had been holding a grudge against each other.

Meanwhile, a still unidentified man shot and injured a 19-year-old scavenger in sitio Mahayahay, Barangay Mabolo at 4 a.m. yesterday.

Rolando Coyoca, a native of Barangay Tapilon, Daanbantayan, was injured in the left leg after he was shot by the unidentified man.

Coyoca was reportedly with two friends when they passed through the area where the assailant was sleeping. A dog suddenly barked, which woke the man up.

Before they realized what was happening, the man pulled out an undetermined caliber of gun and shot at them, hitting Coyoca. The man then fled.

Responding paramedics of the Emergency Rescue Unit Foundation rushed the victim to the Cebu City Medical Center (CCMC) for treatment.

Police said the assailant could have been half-awake when he opened fire at the victims.

In another incident in Barangay Basak-San Nicolas at past 4 p.m. last Friday, Allan Aquino, 34, was injured after he was shot by a certain Marialito Librado alias “Itoy” and an unidentified man who served as driver of the getaway motorcycle.

Nine-year-old Jen-jen Oliva was hit with a stray bullet in the leg.

Aquino, according to the investigation, was walking along Rizal Avenue Extension when the suspect, who was on board a black motorcycle driven by a cohort, suddenly shot him and escaped towards south.

The child was onboard a trisikad when the bullet grazed his forehead. Aquino was hit on the right part of his chest and back. The two were taken to the CCMC for treatment.

Police recovered three empty shells of caliber .45, a slug, a pair of black slippers, and a white ball cap from the crime scene. They have yet to determine the motive behind the incident. (FREEMAN)