In Mandaue, Talisay: 3 dead, 1 injured in shooting incidents

CEBU, Philippines — Within 24 hours, at least three persons were killed and another one was injured in separate shooting incidents in the cities of Mandaue and Talisay.

While watching a cockfighting game, 42-year-old Carlos Reyes was shot in the head inside D and C Coliseum in Barangay Ibabao around 10 p.m. last Tuesday.

Police Officer 2 Ariel Gingco of the Centro Police Station 1 of the Mandaue City Police Office (MCPO) said the witnesses informed them that the assailant who shot Reyes twice was wearing a ball cap, denim pants and a black jacket.

The assailant reportedly was carrying a woven basket (buyot), as if to blend with the patrons in the area.

A team of responders led by Romeo Tibon arrived in the area declared the victim dead on the spot.

The assailant fled after shooting the victim.

The police recovered an empty shell from a. 45 caliber pistol and one fired slug at the crime scene.

Highway Killing

Few hours have passed, Kent William Isok, 25, was also killed at the intersection of Barangay Tabok and the national highway at around 4:50 a.m. yesterday.

Senior Police Officer 4 Allen Carradine said that their investigation revealed that the victim stopped by a food outlet with two other companions for a meal.

One of the victim’s companions told Isok, a resident of Hermag Village, Barangay Tabok, that they noticed someone followed them. However, it was too late to realize because one of the two assailants shot Isok on the head several times.

A witness told police that about four gunshots were heard around that time.

Sheena Marie Consegra, a resident of IPI, Barangay Tingub, Mandaue City, who just passed by the area at the time of the incident, was hit by a stray bullet.

The assailants, on board a motorcycle, fled.  The police found at least four empty shells at the crime scene.

Consegra was immediately sent to the Mandaue City District Hospital for treatment.

MCPO Director Julian Entoma said that the information they have gathered showed that the incidents were linked to illegal drugs.

The police discovered that Isok, who was a fraternity member, was allegedly a member of the Almadin Drug Group, reportedly a close competitor of the Sadaya Drug Group, while Reyes was a high-value target in this illegal activity.

Talisay City

Meanwhile, another drug personality was shot to death during the buy-bust operation in Barangay San Roque, Talisay City yesterday at around 12:15 a.m.

The police identified the fatality as Eugene “Amaw” Cabando, legal age and resident of the place.

Talisay City Police Station Chief Marlu Conag told The FREEMAN that a joint operation of the Talisay City Police and the Regional Mobile Force Batallion (RMFB-7) was done in Barangay Tangke to transact with Cabando.

When the operation was consummated, Cabando reportedly sensed that he was transacting with authorities, which prompted the former to pull his firearm.

Conag said Cabando fired at the authorities.

The police fired back that hit the suspect at the different parts of his body that caused his instantaneous death.

Members of the Scene of the Crime Operations recovered a .38 revolver with three empty shells in the cylinder believed to be used by the suspect.

Aside from the firearm, 51 small pieces of shabu were seized from his possession.

Conag added that Cabando is a cohort of Alvin and Dugyot, who were also killed last Friday.

Alvin and Dugyot were involved in the shooting of PO1 Jaylord Joseph Taping at Sitio Mananga 2, Barangay Tabunok while the latter was conducting casing surveillance against drug personalities in the area.

Cabando is allegedly also involved in several shooting incidents in Barangay San Roque and Tangke. — GAN (FREEMAN)