Child dies, parents hurt in Guba shooting

CEBU, Philippines - Because of an argument over a dog, a boy was shot dead while his parents were wounded after their drunk neighbor opened fire at their house in Barangay Guba, Cebu City on Wednesday night.

Jasper Ceniza, a grade three pupil of Guba Elementary School, was declared dead on arrival at the Guba Emergency Hospital after he was allegedly shot on the chest by their neighbor, Junrey Andrecoso, 31, at around 9:30 p.m.

The victim’s father, 38-year-old Reynaldo Ybañez and his mother who is seven months pregnant, Christina Ceniza, were also wounded during the attack.

Cebu City Police Office investigator PO3 Geoffrey Gutual told The FREEMAN that on November 27, 2011, a Sunday, the child was bitten by the suspect’s dog.

This irked Reynaldo and resulted in a heated argument wherein Reynaldo threatened Andrecoso that he will chop his dog. “Tadtaron ko nang imong iro,” Reynaldo told the suspect.

The father’s statement reportedly angered the suspect.

“Nagkabikil gyud mi kay iya (Reynaldo) man ko gi-hulga nga iyang tadtaron akong iro nga duha na ka tuig naa nako,” Andrecoso told The FREEMAN. 

Andrecoso reportedly got drunk, took his paltik caliber .45 pistol and opened fire at the Andrecoso’s house.

The victims who were already asleep were awakened by five successive gunshots.

Though wounded on his left thigh, Reynaldo crawled outside their house and saw the suspect fleeing. He shouted for help.

Their neighbors Jovelon and Baltazar Suquib heard Reynaldo’s desperate call for help and rushed to his aid. They then saw Jasper and Christina bloodied. 

Jasper did not make it to the hospital because of a gunshot wound in the chest. Christina was wounded on her left leg.

The wounded and grieving parents were transferred to the Cebu City Medical Center for further medical attention while their child’s body was brought to the Cebu Rolling Hills Memorial Chapel.

After positively identified by the victims, Andrescoso was invited by the police. He admitted his crime. But minutes later, the suspect, who seemed disturbed, denied the allegations. “Suspect ra gyud ko ani sir, di ako ang namusil nila,” he told The FREEMAN.

He, however, admitted that he owned the gun taken from his possession, which had four live ammunitions.

 Gutual said that the suspect will be charged with double frustrated murder and another for murder. Andrecoso is currently detained at the CCPO detention cell while awaiting formal charges to be filed against him today. (FREEMAN)