Man faces murder charges

CEBU, Philippines - The Cebu City Prosecutor’s Office indicted the man who strafed his neighbor’s house which led to the death a nine-year-old boy and wounded the victim’s parents.

Prosecutor Gandhi Truya is set to file two counts of attempted murder and murder before the Regional Trial Court after Junrey Andrecoso waived his right to undergo preliminary investigation.

Andrecoso told the media he chose not to file his counter-affidavit because he wanted to answer everything in court.

He said he was never alone in planning the shooting as there was somebody coaching him to do it. He added that he will divulge the name of his companion before the court.

Andrecoso said he already talked to the family and even apologized.

Last Wednesday, Andrecoso opened fire at his neighbor’s house and hit Jasper Ceniza, a grade three pupil of Guba Elementray School.

Jasper was hit on the chest and was declared dead on arrival at the hospital while the victim’s father Reynaldo Ybañez and his mother Christina Ceniza, were wounded during the attack.

PO3 Geoffrey Gutual, the investigator of the case, said that last November 27, the child was bitten by Andrecoso’ dog.

Andrecoso told the media that Reynaldo threatened to chop his dog and it resulted into a heated argument.

He likewise admitted during the incident that he drank alcoholic but that he was not drunk when took his gun and opened fire at Reynaldo’s house.

However, he said somebody coached him to do it.

Reynaldo told The FREEMAN that his son’s death was a “big waste” and should not be left unpunished.

“He took away my son’s life. My son, whom I really love, that is why I cannot forgive him, and I will follow the law so that he could be jailed,” said in Cebuano.

Christina, who was limping because of her gunshot wound on the left thigh, said that Jasper really wants to be a policeman.

“My son dreamed of being a policeman. Though we are very poor, I shared his dream until his death,” the teary-eyed Christina said.   

Reynaldo received information that Andrecoso’s target was him. “If I was his sole target, why did he open fire at my family? He should have killed me and not my son,” he said.

Andrecoso’s neighbors, who requested anonymity, told The FREEMAN the suspect have long been a “nuisance” in the area. “Perwisyo gyud na siya,” they said. 

They also said that a certain Elmer Coca, 21, a habal-habal driver was also stabbed by Andrecoso a year ago. The incident happened after the suspect, who was armed with an unknown bladed weapon, meddled into Coca’s fight with his wife.   

Aside from being a “public meddler,” as alleged by his neighbors’, Andrecoso is allegedly “careless neighbor.”

“He (suspect) lets his dog freely roam around. In fact, aside from my son, there were also several others who were bitten by his dog,” he said.

After Andrecoso’s dog was vaccinated, it seemed, according to Reynaldo, that he became neglectful of his dog who most of the time, attack his neighbors.

The FREEMAN tried talking to the Andrecoso yesterday but he remained, since Thursday, seemingly troubled and aloof.  (FREEMAN)