Man charged for drive-by shooting

CEBU, Philippines - A man involved in the drive by shooting in Katipunan Street, Barangay Tisa last May 26 has been charged of frustrated and attempted murder before the Regional Trial Court yesterday.

Jonas Abanes was charged of the crime after the victims, Andrian Pugoy and Jeffrey Dinglasa, positively identified him as among those who shot them.

Dinglasa, in his affidavit, said that he and Pugoy were at a corner of Tomlyn Compound waiting for a jeepney ride home with their female companions when eight men suddenly appeared from nowhere and for unknown reasons shot at them.

Pugoy sustained a gunshot wound to the head while Dinglasa was hit on his right side. They were brought to the Cebu City Medical Center immediately for treatment.

While the victims were being treated at the hospital, responding policemen presented to them Abanes, whom they positively identified as one of the suspects of the crime.

Abanes denied any involvement in the shooting, but admitted having gone to Tomlyn Compound after they saw a commotion and heard bursts of gunfire and persons running away from the scene.

The accused said he was with his friend but went home at 2 a.m., two hours after the incident. He said he was surprised when moments later, policemen arrived at their house and arrested him for allegedly being involved in the incident.

But Prosecutor Marlo Rey Gidayawan said Abanes was positively identified by the victims as one of the eight culprits in the shooting.

“Positive identification, where categorical and consistent, without showing of any ill-motive prevails over alibi and denial; the main defense of the respondent is mere denial coupled with an admission that he was at the scene of the crime after the shooting incident,” Gidayawan said. — Jasmin R. Uy/WAB (THE FREEMAN)