Station cops told to help solve drive-by shootings

Investigators from the police stations in Parian, Fuente and Waterfront have been tapped by the Cebu City Police Office to help the Homicide Section solve the drive-by-shootings that killed two people and injured four others last October 4.

Sr. Supt. Patrocinio Comendador said that because of the lack of personnel in the Homicide Section he has ordered investigators from these stations to help locate the relatives of the victims, the survivors and take their affidavits as the crime also happened in their areas.

Two of the survivors have been discharged from the hospital where they were first brought and the police now have no idea where they are. 

Some relatives of those who were killed and two survivors have expressed their willingness to cooperate with the investigation.

Police are also waiting for the result of the cross-matching of the empty shells recovered from the four crime scenes of the drive-by shootings.

The police maintained that they are still focused on the fraternity-related angle since the areas where the shootings happened were regular hangout area of fraternity members.

One of the two men who carried out the shootings has already been identified, he is said to have several pending warrants of arrest for murder and homicide in the city.  Police said he was the one riding pillion on the motorcycle.

Comendador said if the evidence recovered from the four crime scenes match, this could support the theory that all the victims, who were shot in different areas of the city, were targeted by the same perpetrators.

Last October 4, Mhako Buenconsejo, 18, an alleged member of the Tau Gamma Phi fraternity, was shot in the neck by two men on a motorcycle while walking along V. Gullas Street.  He survived the attack.

The perpetrators then shot businessman Laurence Morados, 32, who was driving his motorcycle at that time after closing his water refilling station in the area. Morados was killed on the spot after he was hit several times.

The suspects continued their deadly joyride and shot men working for The Freeman before proceeding to Sanciangko Street in Parian.

There, another student Jeffrey Romano, 21, was shot in the foot and thigh by the same perpetrators.

The gunmen then proceeded to Sambag Uno where they also shot a group of youngsters along Ascencion Street killing Lord Stephen Vasquez, and William John Aznar, 24 and wounding Rendon Pelleren,18.

As the perpetrators escaped along Uytengsu Street, they also shot Rey Gonzalez who was riding  his motorcycle, Gonzalez was hit on the back of his right forearm.

The police found several empty shells apparently all from a .45 cal. pistol from these crime scenes.

“If the empty shells from the four crime scenes will match, that means that the perpetrators are the same, kung mag-match dili na kaayo ta maglisod,” Comendador said.

The police are contemplating the filing of charges later this week or early next week after they completed compiling the evidence and the affidavits of the witnesses.  — Edwin Ian Melecio/BRP