Is Lim the target?: Security guard killed in attack

CEBU, Philippines — A bar security guard was killed while three others were wounded in what appeared to be an ambush outside a popular bar in uptown Cebu City close to midnight Saturday.

Investigation revealed that gunmen on board a white pickup truck opened fire at a black Ford Expedition, which was pulling out of the parking lot of the New Cebu Infinity KTV and Music Lounge along Archbishop Reyes Avenue in Barangay Kamputhaw.

The burst of fire killed William Bucay, the security guard looking after the bar’s parking lot. He was hit in different parts of his body.

The bullets also hit another security guard of the bar, George Lambating, and two German tourists, Pauline Basbach and Manuel Goerrings. The three are out of danger.

Police recovered 53 empty bullets and four live bullets from an M16, as well as two empty bullets from a .9mm firearm, from the crime scene.

Target

A Facebook post of SunStar Cebu Saturday dawn quoted controversial businessman Peter Lim as having reportedly said it was his younger brother, Wellington Lim, who was the target of the shooting.

Peter and Wellington own the New Cebu Infinity KTV and Music Lounge.

However, the police said yesterday they have not identified the people inside Ford Expedition.

Cebu City Police Director, Senior Supt. Joel Doria, told reporters that as of yesterday, no witness has come forward to identify the passengers of the luxury vehicle.

“Right now, we cannot name names unless meron tayong hawak na documents. Wala naman tayong problema dun kung nag-reach out sa inyo (reporters), but on our side, we cannot take that statement considering na hindi natin nakita kung sino yung proven occupants dun (inside the vehicle) kasi kung magsasalita tayo na wala naman tayong basis, mahirap na,” Doria said.

Doria said they traced the Ford Expedition to the Cebu I.T. Park after the incident with the help of a habal-habal driver who is a member of the Barangay Intelligence Network (BIN).

“Nakita yan sa may condo unit, sa may IT Park. Isang BIN natin na habal-habal driver na nanduon…nakuhanan ng habal-habal driver natin, pumunta ang SOCO pri-nocess,” Doria said.

However, the security guard at the condominium at that time reportedly refused to disclose information about the vehicle’s ownership.

“Medyo nahihirapan tayo considering ayaw makipag-cooperate sa area, duon sa condo kung saan nag-park yung vehicle at bumaba ang occupant. Nagkakaroon tayo ng medyo konting hindrance kasi, one thing, yung security guard, ayaw niya makipag-cooperate. We are facing a blank wall, considering na ayaw nga nilang makipag-cooperate,” Doria said.

They will continue to talk to the guard but may be compelled to file charges against him if he continues to shun the investigation, Doria said.

He also said they have coordinated with the Land Transportation Office (LTO) and expects to get hold of documents on the vehicle tomorrow, Monday.

Doria said they would also welcome a statement or a visit from Peter Lim.

“Probably, kung pwede siya pumunta sa atin to issue a statement, wala naman tayong problema duon. Ang sa atin, meron tayong tinututukan na vehicle involved sa shooting and ang sabi nga natin, meron tao nakakita kung sino occupant, but they, for some reason, ayaw nila magsalita at nagbago ang statement,” Doria said.

Peter Lim has been tagged by President Rodgrigo Duterte as being linked to the illegal drug trade but, recently, Department of Justice (DOJ) prosecutors junked the cases filed against him, self-confessed drug personality Kerwin Espinosa, and 18 others for insufficient evidence.

Fearless

The incident happened just hours after authorities belied there are “series” of killings in Metro Cebu.

Police Chief Supt. Robert Quenery, the chief of the Police Regional Office (PRO) - 7, said last Friday the recent spate of killings in Metro Cebu cannot be called a “series” because they do not necessarily form a pattern.

“There is no pattern in these killings. Each incident is unique in itself kaya isolated cases,” Quenery said.

To Mayor Tomas Osmeña, however, the pattern is the absence of fear on the part of criminals.

“I don’t know what to say except criminals now are not afraid anymore. They will do what they want to do. There’s no fear. It’s scary,” he said.

Still, he said, he will leave the matter to the police.

“Let the police run the show. I will move when it becomes really out of control and I’ll drive them away,” he said.

Councilor David Tumulak, the city’s deputy mayor for police matters, said he will talk to the police about the proliferation of high-powered firearms.

He said it is curious how criminals like the suspects in the recent ambush got hold of high-powered firearms when Duterte has announced only the Armed Forces of the Philippines and the Philippine National Police are authorized to buy these guns.

Tumulak said that while he still trusts the city police, they should intensify visibility further.

“Well, diri sa Cebu City, we all entrust the peace and order to the police. A little bit of alarming kay mostly high profile ang victims gipangpusil ug dunay ma-angol pod,” he said. — with Jean Marvette A. Demecillo (FREEMAN)