2 dead, 1 injured in shootings

CEBU, Philippines - In less than an hour, two men died and another one was injured in separate shooting incidents in Danao City and Naga City yesterday morning.

In the Danao incident, the 39-year-old victim was shot by his neighbor after a drinking session at 1:45 a.m. in Sitio Timobo, Barangay Cabungahan. Amelito Gonzales, a laborer, succumbed to a gunshot wound in his left armpit.

Gonzales was rushed to the Danao Provincial Hospital but was declared dead on arrival.

Investigation conducted by SPO1 Rodrigo Roble Jr. revealed that Gonzales was talking with his friends after their drinking session not far from his house when the suspect, Cedric James Quimco, appeared and shot the victim once. Quimco then fled on foot.

Police are looking at personal grudge as motive of the shooting, as the two have reportedly clashed in the past.

In Naga City, Cristo Jay Cañedo, 24, died while his companion, Aldonnel Rabor, 27, was injured after they were shot by an unidentified man while drinking at the Baywalk in Barangay East Poblacion past 2 a.m.

Cañedo succumbed to a gunshot wound in the neck while Rabor survived a gunshot wound to his upper left hip and right hand.

Bystanders rushed the two to the South General Hospital, but Cañedo did not make it alive.

PO3 Menandro Boligor, desk officer, said the victims are from Barangay South Poblacion, San Fernando. They went to the Baywalk in Talisay only to drink.

The suspect’s group was also reportedly drinking nearby.    

Boligor said both groups were already under the influence of liquor when assailant and Cañedo figured in an argument, which led to the assailant drawing a gun and fired at the victims.

“Diha na lang ni sila nagkabingkil tungod sa kahubog unya suya-suya,” Boligor said in a phone interview.

Police recovered four empty shells from a .45 pistol and one slug of unknown caliber from the crime scene. – (FREEMAN)