Youth shot in Carreta, gang blamed

CEBU, Philippines - Even with the truce forged between two rival gangs in barangay Carreta initiated by the barangay officials just a week ago, another alleged gang member shot and wounded a teenage boy early morning yesterday at the corner of M.J. Cuenco Ave. and Hipodromo St.

Around 5:45 a.m. yesterday, Kevin Clark Turbo of Gahida St., barangay Hipodromo, was shot and grazed in the right temple by a certain “Macky” who was with eight other companions.

PO3 Leroy Baguio said that the victim, who alleged that he is not affiliated with any gang but identified the suspect as a member of the Crips gang in their barangay. The victim also said they were neighbors.

PO3 Baguio said that Turbo, along with his friends Michael Florentino, Joseph Olita, and Pablito de Ocampo Jr, were walking home from a disco in celebration of the fiesta in barangay Hipodromo. Along the way a group of youths threw a bottle at them but hit no one.

Turbo to approach the group and confronted the suspect who, without a word, suddenly pulled out a handgun and shot at the victim, grazing his right temple.

The group then fled from the area while the victim was rushed to Chong Hua Hospital.

PO3 Baguio said that the victim was already all right as of late in the morning yesterday when the police visited him for an interview. The suspect remains at large.

Last Tuesday, at least 40 gang members attended, concluded with the signing of the “peace agreement.”

Bloods gang leader Raffy Obiña and Crips gang leader Pido Regis, promised to honor the agreement. If another violent incident between the two gangs occurs, both leaders agreed to sit down to solve the problem instead of resorting to retaliation.

They also assured to relay the agreement to their fellow members in the neighboring barangays of T. Padilla, Tejero and Lorega.

City councilor Augustus Pe, also head of the Committee on Police, said that though yesterday’s incident occurred despite the truce forged last week, it was not yet alarming.

Pe said that he is satisfied with the performance of the police in addressing the problem in the barangay but the problems or altercations between the gang themselves is already beyond the capacity of the police to solve.

The city official said that after talking with Carreta barangay captain Eduardo Lauron the other night, hours before yesterday’s incident happened, it was agreed that they will continue with the truce. — Niña G. Sumacot/BRP (THE FREEMAN)