Suspect in shooting of cashier yields

CEBU, Philippines – The main suspect in the shooting last Monday of the cashier of a video karaoke bar in sitio Sangi, baragan Tabunok, Talisay City surrendered to the police last Wednesday.

Kent Edmil Cañedo, 20, a resident of Ruiz Compound, barangay Tabunok, admitted to the shooting of Mary Ann Alcanzado, 26, last Monday night, while he and his friends were drinking inside Corridor 3 Videoke.

As of yesterday afternoon, Alcanzado, a resident of sitio Cawayan, barangay San Isidro of the same city, was still in critical condition after sustaining a single gunshot wound in the head. She had just been hired as a cashier for the establishment, which started operating three months ago.

Cañedo admitted being a member of "True Brown Style (TBS 13), another gang which is reportedly gaining members in the city.

Last Monday, he and his friends were drinking inside the bar where Alcanzado was working, when she admonished them for putting their feet on top of the table. Cañedo alleged that the cashier singled out one of his friends and allegedly mentioned names of members of their rival group to them. Irritated by the cashier's alleged misdemeanor, Cañedo admitted he took out his .38 revolver pistol which at that time was tucked in his waist.

He started spinning the gun's chamber which he claimed was loaded, but all of a sudden it exploded and hit the cashier in the forehead.

The suspect said his intention was only to intimidate the cashier so that she would stop nagging. After the incident, he and his friends left the bar.

Cañedo went straight to a friend in Consolacion town for refuge.

It was his father, the suspect admitted, who forced him to show up to the police and own up to the crime.

Cañedo however denied that they also took away the victim's bag and cellphone and the bar's earnings with them. He is now detained at the Talisay City Police Station while waiting for the frustrated homicide case with robbery to be leveled against him. (THE FREEMAN)