CEBU - Tension grips barangay Cabungahan, Naga City after a pregnant woman was killed Sunday afternoon when a group of men believed to be supporters of one of two feuding politicians fired at a group of people watching a basketball game.
The fatality was identified as Lani Lapes, a resident of the barangay, according to the spot report of the Naga City Police.
The incident was reportedly triggered by the continuing rift between two politicians, who battled it out for the position of barangay captain in last year’s elections.
Classes at the elementary school of the barangay were also suspended since Monday as school officials are worried of the safety of the 400 schoolchildren.
PO3 Ken Cabrera told The Freeman that Lapes was among the more than a hundred people watching a basketball game when the shooting took place.
The game was part of the activities organized by Cabungahan barangay captain Federico Cabesares for their fiesta celebration.
Midway through the game at around 5 p.m., a group of men alleged to be supporters of former barangay captain Epifanio Entica fired at the people using long firearms.
The suspects were identified as Ronald Paunil, 27; Bernardine Gentica, 27; and Edgar Bacus, of legal age, all from barangay Cabungahan.
The Naga Police did not know how many months pregnant the victim was and also did not have on record where she was hit or how many gunshot wounds she sustained.
Lapes died while she was being taken to the Minglanilla District Hospital located 11 kilometers away.
Cabungahan councilman Quirico Lapes accompanied by three barangay tanods immediately reported the incident to the Naga Police.
The incident was reportedly also witnessed by councilmen Wilfredo Cabesares and Juan Mangubat.
A team led by SPO1 Randolph Rivera were sent to pursue the three suspects, but came back empty handed.
Last Monday, armed supporters of the two barangay politicians reportedly almost traded gunfire, which scared the schoolchildren.
Cabungahan Elementary School Principal Floresty Adlawan decided to suspend classes.
The school is situated in a valley between two hills occupied by the Cabesares and the Entica families.
A resident of the barangay, who refused to be named for safety reasons, said the political rift between the two has been around for more than 20 years. The source said that there have been violent confrontations between their supporters.
Cabesares used to be a supporter of former Mayor Paul Ong while Entica is allied with the family of incumbent Mayor Val Chiong.
Cabesares however recently joined the Chiong camp.
Mayor Chiong said that he will visit the area today hoping to find a solution and lower the tension.
Cebu Provincial Police Director Carmelo Valmoria said he sent four Special Reaction Unit members to join the personnel from the Naga Police to maintain peace and order.
Valmoria, however said that the reason for the shooting was political.
“The teachers and the students were afraid to go to school due to the security situation as the result of the shooting incident involving the two groups,” Valmoria said.
The presence of the SRU personnel and Naga PNP, Valmoria said, made them decide to hold classes again.
However Naga City Department of Education Division Office said that only the teachers reported to school as of yesterday. — /NLQ (THE FREEMAN)