Teenager killed in shooting

CEBU, Philippines - A man died after he was shot by a lone gunman who was targeting another person yesterday dawn in Barangay San Antonio, Cebu City.

The fatality was known as a certain "Jose" and the supposed target was Vivencio Baldesamo, Jr.  alias JV, according to police.

The shooting happened while the victims were onboard a red Honda CRV bearing plate numbers GTL 439 with eight other companions, including a  15-year-old boy, said Homicide Section team leader SPO4 Alex Dacua.

Dacua said the 10 men, who were neighbors in A. Lopez St., Barangay Labangon, Cebu City were on their way home after watching a cockfight in Barangay Tejero.

The car was owned by Baldesamo but driven by his companion. They stopped for the red traffic signal at Osmeña Boulevard corner P. Del Rosario St. at 4 a.m. when a man approached from behind and fired at the car four times.

The bullets pierced through the glass windshield and hit Jose who was sitting at the back most of the car. The gunman was then heard uttering words saying, "Asa man si JV ani?"

Baldesamo was sitting at the center. The driver of the car sped away from the gunman until they reached A. Lopez St.

Jose, who is reportedly a native of Negros Oriental, died on the spot.

Police responded to the crime scene but the gunman had already disappeared. A slug believed to be from a caliber 9mm pistol was recovered inside the car. The car is now in the custody of police and was subjected to a laboratory test.

As of now, Dacua said they are eyeing personal grudge as the motive behind the attack. But Baldesamo, who was apparently the gunman's supposed target, claimed that he had no known enemies, said Dacua. Baldesamo was also uncooperative, he said.

"Wala siya'y information nga gihatag. Ang iya lang ingon nga wala siya kahibaw kinsa'y iyang kontra," the police investigator said. (He was not very helpful. He only said he has no idea who could be behind this.)

Dacua believed that the gunman had no intention to kill.

"Akong tan-aw ang tumong ato sa suspek dili g'yud para patyon siya, kun dili hadlukon lang unta. Kay kung patyon pa, didto pa lang unta daan sa buwangan kung diin naglakaw-lakaw siya ra usa," Dacua theorized, adding that the suspect had been tailing the group since from Tejero. (I think there was no intention to kill, only to scare, because the supposed target was walking around alone at the cockpit.)

Baldesamo, a native of Bacolod City, told police that  he just recently hired Jose as his utility boy. Jose's body now lies at Surelife Funeral Homes in Natalio Bacalso Avenue and remained unclaimed as of press time.

Dacua said they are thoroughly investigating the incident to identify the perpetrator and his primary motive. –(FREEMAN)