Gunsmith shot inside cemetery

CEBU, Philippines - An unlicensed gunsmith was shot dead in his house inside the Chinese Cemetery in Barangay Lorega, Cebu City yesterday dawn.

The victim, George dela Cruz, 29, instantaneously died of gunshot wounds on his head while the assailant with mask remains unidentified.

According to the Homicide Section investigation, the incident happened while the victim was sleeping with his deaf-mute live-in-partner and one-year-old son inside their shanty.

A man, wearing a bonnet, reportedly opened the curtain which served as the door covering of the shanty and shot the victim who was sleeping on the floor with his family.

The assailant then took a metal box where the victim’s gun-manufacturing equipment were kept, then left on foot.

SPO1 Ruth Violango of Homicide Section said the assailant might have an interest in dela Cruz’s work as a gunsmith as he took the victim’s equipment.

Violango said that they had to get an interpreter to take into account the testimony of the victim’s spouse, Lucia Mangilag, who was the lone witness to the crime.

When the police hired the services of an interpreter, Violango said they could not also fully understand Mangilag’s sign language.

The couple has been living inside the Chinese Cemetery for a week now after transferring from Danao City where the victim allegedly started his gun-manufacturing activities.

The victim might have been receiving threat prompting him to transfer living in Lorega with his family for safety, the police officer said.

Violango said that few days ago, a man arrived in Chinese Cemetery looking for the victim. — (FREEMAN)