'Dirty finger' triggers Lorega shooting

CEBU, Philippines - In relation to yesterday’s report on the wounding of two barangay Lorega-San Miguel residents caused by stray bullets, an alleged member of a gang of youth offenders, notorious here in the city for previous shooting incidents, was arrested less than 24 hours after the incident.

The 17-year-old suspect (name withheld by The FREEMAN for being a minor) was arrested in his residence after reportedly shooting and accidentally hitting two women, instead of the alleged target who is a member of rival Crips gang.

The incident occurred at the corner of New Imus and San Miguel Streets in Lorega-San Miguel, this city, last Saturday night.

Cebu City Police Office Homicide Section personnel led by their chief, Insp. Vicente Velasquez, conducted a pursuit operation after the incident and eventually arrested the suspect who was positively identified by the victims and another witness.

Sarah Dizon, 43, and Joan Aguinaldo, 22, were standing in front of a small store owned by Dizon herself, when a commotion occurred among a group of youngsters about a hundred meters away from them, across the road leading to MJ Cuenco Avenue past 10 that night.

Bullets grazed the thighs of the two women in the process. They were taken to the hospital immediately, while the group of youngsters fled after sensing the presence of responding policemen.

It was Supt. Patrocinio Comendador, director of the CCPO, who confirmed that the group was later identified as the Bloods gang.

In the course of the investigation, Comendador said, the minor reasoned out that he fired at members of a rival group as an act of retaliation after the rival gangsters flashed the “dirty finger” at him and his buddies.

A charge for physical injuries, and or other appropriate charges, will be filed against the suspect who was found out to have acted with discernment. — Niña G. Sumacot/MEEV   (THE FREEMAN)