Shooting incidents in two towns

CEBU, Philippines – The Provincial Task Force on Criminality may already be having its hands full as at least two separate shooting incidents occurred in the province days before it was created.

A man having conversation outside the house of his friend was shot to death by unidentified man in Sitio San Miguel, Barangay Owak, Asturias Cebu last Thursday evening, while two men were injured after they were fired at in Liloan last Wednesday evening.

In the Asturias incident, Roel Fernandez Ardinez, 23, died on the spot after he sustained two gunshot wounds on his abdomen.

Initial investigation revealed that Ardinez was with his friend Jujie Mahinay Ostia, 18, were talking in a nipa hut beside Ardinez house when an unidentified person appeared and shot Ardinez twice with the use of unknown caliber of firearm. Ostia was able to run.

PO1 Emmanuel Blones told The FREEMAN that the man who shot Ardinez was wearing a bonnet to cover his face.

Ostia said there was no way he could identify the man because it was already dark and the gunman's face was covered.

In Liloan, two men sustained injuries after an alleged member of a gang fired at them while passing the road in Barangay Tayud last Wednesday evening.

Prince Devera, 19, of Sitio Tabuk, Barangay Yati was wounded on his right arm while JM Sandot, 20, sustained bruises in the different parts of his body.

Devera was immediately brought to the Vicente Sotto Memorial Medical Center in Cebu City.

SPO2 Marcelino Servila said that Sandot and Devera were on board a motorcycle. Upon reaching Barangay Tayud, they noticed a group of men standing beside the road. Suddenly, one of them fired at Devera with the use of an unknown caliber of firearm.

Servila also said that they were able to arrest one John Alexander Del Prado, 18, of Barangay Tayong after witnesses pointed to him as one of those bystanders.

But Servila clarified that Del Prado was not the one who shot Devera. He said that he was just one of those who were with the man who fired at the victims.

Servila also said that the motive of the incident might be due to a fraternity war or personal grudge. He added that they already have the name of the trigger man but refused to reveal it, since they are still conducting further investigation.

Devera is already safe but has yet to give his statement to the police. (FREEMAN)