3 suspects in resto bar shooting charged

CEBU - Three people have been charged in court for the uptown resto bar shooting incident last week that killed a friend of the bar’s cook.

The Cebu City Prosecutor’s Office has recommended for the filing of murder and attempted murder charges against Jay Martinez, Jun Louie Oyao and Nicolas Gomez.

The three were accused of killing of Hermoso Sumampong and trying to kill his friend Ernest Cabahit in the dawn of August 31 in Boss Grill Resto Bar where Cabahit is working as cook.

Prior the shooting incident, the three accused allegedly figured in a brawl with a group of customers but was pacified by the responding policemen. However, an hour after the three came back looking for the waiters.

Cabahit said Sumampong pointed to him as a waiter and without any provocation Martinez allegedly pulled out from his waist a handgun and shot him. Fortunately, the gun misfired giving him the opportunity to run for safety.

Cabahit said he ran inside the resto bar and escaped through the back door leaving his friend behind. On his way out, he added he heard a single gunshot while Martinez’s companions continue to pursue him.

If not for the timely intervention of the guard on duty, he said he would have also been killed.

Edwin Sescon, an asset of the Theft and Robbery Section of the Cebu City Police Office, responded to the incident immediately and was able to arrest Martinez.

The two other accused, Oyao and Gomez, hid in a house near the Redemptorist Church and engaged in a shootout with the responding members of the Special Weapons And Tactics team.

Oyao was injured during the shootout, prompting them to surrender. Oyao and Gomez were brought to Fuente Police Station where they met Martinez who was arrested earlier.

Cabahit and other witnesses positively identified the three accused as the ones responsible in shooting Sumampong.

No bail was recommended for their temporary liberty for the murder case, which means that even if they would pay the P24,000 bail recommended for the attempted murder, they will still be languishing in jail. — Fred P. Languido/WAB (THE FREEMAN)