3 teenagers shot to death

CEBU, Philippines - Three persons, two of them aged 17, died in separate shooting incidents yesterday.

In Mandaue City, an 18-year-old member of Crips fraternity died after he was shot by one of the members of their rival fraternity, Bloods, when they accidentally met at barangay Tabok, past midnight yesterday.

Geymar Obesquis, a resident of barangay Upper Tabok sustained a gunshot wound at the back. He was dead on the spot. His companion, Jayson Ceniza, was able to run for help.

The two were walking home. Along the road, they noticed four men walking towards them. Upon noticing it was their rival group, they tried to run but one of the four threw a softdrink bottle at them and fired thrice.

 Obesquis fell when he was hit in the back. The assailants fled on foot. Residents nearby called the Accident Control and Emergency Rescue Team but he was already dead. The police found no evidence from the crime scene.

Police Officer 3 Romel Lim of the Investigation Detection and Management Bureau of the Mandaue City Police Office said they are looking for leads based on the statements given by Cuizon.

In a separate incident in Lapu-Lapu City, a 17-year-old was shot dead by his neighbor while walking home from a benefit dance at sitio Pagutlan, barangay Soong-Mactan.

John Fren Villanueva was walking at about 3:00 in the morning. At a dim portion of the road, Romy de la Cerna, 25, appeared from behind him and shot him in the head.

The Special Weapons and Tactics and personnel from the Homicide Section of the Lapu-Lapu City police immediately conducted a hot pursuit operation but dela Cerna is nowhere to be found.

Witnesses already appeared at the police station to help in the investigation.

Police Officer 2 John Carlo Jocutan said the two have a grudge against each other.

Meanwhile in Toledo City, a 17-year-old was shot dead by unidentified assailant while attending a benefit dance at barangay Subayon about 3:00 in the morning.

Erenio Cunahap Linihan Jr. of sitio Dao, barangay Tubod was shot in the head.

Police Officer 2 Roxam Enerio said Linihan was dancing inside the basketball court where the benefit dance was held when his companion Leonil Duguil heard a single burst of gunfire.

Duguil was surprised upon seeing Linihan already lying on the ground with a gunshot wound in his head.

 Linihan was rushed to the Toledo City General Hospital by Duguil and tanod on-duty Arthur Ybañez. He was transferred to Vicente Sotto Memorial Medical Center where he died a few hours later.

 Enerio said they are now conducting a follow up investigation to determine the motive of the killing and to arrest the perpetrator.

Also yesterday, a 59-year-old man was shot while drinking with his friends along the road in Barangay Hipodromo, Cebu City.

Genes Origenes, of 185 Lower Riverside, Barangay Hipodromo, was shot at the Ayala Access Road at 12 midnight while drinking with friends.

Police said that Origenes and his friends, Oliver Alforque, a certain Joury and Allan were drinking when a motorcycle with two men on board stopped near them.

The back rider then pulled out a gun and shot Origenes several times in the back.

Origenes was rushed to the Vicente Sotto Memorial Medical Center (VSMMC) for immediate treatment, while the suspects fled. He is now in stable condition. — (FREEMAN)