Family feud prompts attack on neighbors

CEBU, Philippines – A longtime family feud was seen as the motive of three men, two of them ex-convicts, for attacking three persons early morning yesterday in Lower Torre, sitio Malipayon, barangay Inayawan, Cebu City.

Police identified the victims as Crisanto Lansang, 26, his 14-year-old nephew, and the 17-year old son of one of the suspects.

The suspects were identified as their neighbors Vicente Abangan, 50, his brother Rolando, 40, and their 25-year-old nephew, Jimmark.

Investigation showed that Lansang and his nephew were inside their house with couple Laureania and Leoncio Lansang and another couple, Crisanta Lansang Lines and husband Stephen.

The household was allegedly preparing for their breakfast around 7:30 a.m. when the suspects, allegedly drunk and armed with a handgun, a crowbar, and a bolo, struck the gate of their house with the crowbar.

Sensing danger, they all ran for safety but Crisanto and the 14-year-old boy were left behind.

After successfully destroying the door of the house, one of the suspects struck Crisanto in the nose with the crowbar while another shot the boy who was grazed in his left arm.

The suspects immediately fled from the house of the victims and proceed to a parked jeepney near the house where Rolando’s 17-year-old son had just awakened.

Without a word, Rolando allegedly stabbed his own son in the back with a bolo. The victim managed to extract the weapon from his body before fleeing.

All three victims were taken to the Cebu City Medical Center while the suspects were arrested by four responding barangay tanods.

Police recovered .357 cal. revolver with two live rounds, two empty shells of .38 cal. revolver, and a crowbar from the crime scene.

The suspects were submitted to a liquor test at CCMC and later a paraffin test yesterday afternoon.

In an interview with The FREEMAN, the suspects denied any participation in the incident.

However, Rolando alleged that he only punched Crisanto in the face because the latter kept providing the suspect’s son with industrial glue. He further alleged that he only wanted to discipline his son that was why he stabbed him.

As to who owned the gun, no one of them would admit.

Homicide investigator PO2 Lou Pagara said that both Vicente and Rolando were charged for frustrated murder last August 1996 and just released last year for threatening Crisanto with a gun.

The three suspects are now detained at the Cebu City Police Office stockade awaiting charges for frustrated murder. — Niña G. Sumacot/BRP (THE FREEMAN)