1 dead, 3 hurt in shooting and stabbing incidents

CEBU - A 24-year-old man was killed while three others were hurt in four separate shooting and stabbing incidents during the weekend.

In barangay Bae, Sibonga town, Jovencio Bermejo was shot at close range by a still unidentified man who sneaked from behind while the victim was watching a television program in his neighbor’s balcony at past 7 p.m. last Saturday.

PO1 Dante Mulo of the Sibonga police said not one of the residents nor did the house owner, identified as Celsa Ortiz, see the gunman do the act because most of them were allegedly focused on what they were watching.

The victim was shot several times with a .45 cal. pistol in the back and killed on the spot and was left sprawled on the floor by the gunman who immediately fled in the dark.

Police believed the motive of the shooting is personal grudge, which is now the focus of their investigation.

In barangay Dungga, Danao City, an overnight drinking session between cousins ended up in a stabbing incident after a heated argument ensued between them early morning yesterday.

Police said Demostenes Perez Gian, 53, suffered stabbed wounds in the stomach after he was stabbed by his cousin named Lito Perez.

SPO4 Teofilo Deguilmo of Danao City police said the suspect allegedly felt insulted by the victim prompting him to pull out a knife that was tucked into his waist and stabbed the victim in the abdomen.

The victim was rushed to Danao District Hospital while the suspect voluntarily surrendered to the barangay hall that turned him over to the police.

Also in Danao City, Junrey Manco Durano, 20, was escorting his girlfriend home when he was shot by two unidentified men in a poorly-lit area of barangay Cahumayhumayan last Saturday night.

Deguilmo said Durano and his girlfriend were walking along the road when unknown to them the two suspects followed them and when they reached the poorly lighted area, one of the suspects drew out a gun and shot Durano in the abdomen. The bullet pierced his body and exited through the back.

Due to fear, the victim’s girlfriend immediately ran for safety and asked for help, but when the help arrived the suspects were already nowhere to be found.

Durano was rushed to Danao District Hospital but was later transferred to another hospital in Cebu City.

Police believed the motive of the incident is jealousy but they are still not discounting other angles.

In Cebu City, Juric Ministerio Andiente, 23, of sitio Tamakin, barangay Babag was ganged up and shot by a group of men believed to be gang members during a basketball game in sitio Pili last Saturday.

Andiente was allegedly playing basketball when a group of men reportedly tried to take him out of the game for some unknown reason.

The victim reportedly fought back and tried to hold on to the basketball court post but the suspects got irked and started mauling him until one of the perpetrators reportedly pulled out a handgun and shot him twice in the jaw.

The suspects, whom the police could yet identify, then hurriedly left the area.

It was not yet clear what motivated the attack.  – Edwin Ian Melecio/WAB (THE FREEMAN)