Four dead, including a minor, in two shooting incidents

CEBU, Philippines -  A girl in her early twenties and her 16-year-old boyfriend were found dead at a secluded and grassy area in Sitio Cansubing, Barangay Buagsong, Cordova yesterday afternoon.

In a separate incident, two men were shot dead also yesterday afternoon along S. Osmeña Boulevard and A.S. Backlig Avenue, at the North Reclamation Area, Barangay Tejero, Cebu City.

Geralyn Primacio of Barangay Catarman and her boyfriend, a minor from Barangay Poblacion, Cordova, had several gunshot wounds in their bodies.

Primacio’s feet were tied with a rope. Her body was found lying in a prone position. She had gunshot wounds on her neck and chest. Her boyfriend was found ten meters away from her. He also had gunshot wounds on his neck, left leg and head.

Sitio Cansubing, the place where the two were found, is about 100 meters away from the barangay road and 30 meters away from houses.

The two attended a party at a parking area in Barangay Poblacion at about 7:00 in the evening on Saturday. Both excused themselves from the group and went to a benefit dance in Barangay Day-as at about 9:00 in the evening.

Sr. Insp. Noli Sernio, chief of the Cordova Police Station, said they were last seen heading outside the dancing area before they were found dead yesterday afternoon.

Primacio was wearing a brown tank top and mini skirt while her boyfriend was wearing a basketball jersey when they were killed.

Sernio told The FREEMAN that Primacio was possibly dragged by her assailants because she had scratches on both her legs and heels.

Police failed to recover any empty shell but they found a cotton rope nearby. They are still waiting for the autopsy result conducted by Christopher Calimbas, municipal health officer.

Though residents heard bursts of gunfire early morning on Sunday, Sernio suspected the two were not killed in the area since there was not much blood found on the grass and there were no signs of struggle.

“Wala kaayo’y banaw sa dugo unya ang grass han-ay ra kaayo, it seems didto sila tiwasi but dili didto gipatay gyud,” Sernio said in a phone interview.

Sernio said the killing could be drug-related. He said that they were scheduled to do surveillance on Primacio this week.

Police now has a suspect in mind but Sernio refused to elaborate.

In the Cebu City incident, 25-year-old Francisco Bencila of Sitio Silangan, Barangay Tinago, Cebu City and a certain Garbo succumbed to multiple gunshot wounds after an unidentified gunman shot them at around 4:20 p.m.

Cebu City Police Office homicide investigator PO3 Geoffrey Gutual told The FREEMAN the two and three unidentified companions were standing on the sidewalk when they were attacked.

Gutual said that the gunman, armed with a caliber .45, approached the group from behind and opened fire. Immediately, Garbo was slumped bloodied on the ground while Bencila, though wounded, tried to flee but was chased and shot by the gunman.

After finishing Bencila off, the assailant reportedly returned to Garbo and shot him several times.

According to the police, the shooting happened after the two victims and their three companions stole from a woman.

This report was confirmed by the Bencila’s mother, Sergia, who said that her son asked his friends while they were drinking to “victimize” someone on Sunday. — (FREEMAN)