Foreigners arrested after brawl

CEBU, Philippines - Four Papua New Guineans figured in a brawl and were arrested in Barangay Kamputhaw, Cebu City last Saturday dawn.

The drunken foreign nationals were identified as Jayjay Kerepa, 24; Emmanuel Nagupi Naemon, 21; Israel Wanqama Warraqo, 20; and Nigel Gwingin Dondo, 18. They all possessed student visas.

The suspects, from different areas in Papua New Guinea, are temporarily living in Maria Luisa Village in Barangay Banilad and Skypark Pension in Junquera Extension, Cebu City; Barangay Guizo in Mandaue City, and in DPI Homes in Lapu-Lapu City, respectively.

The four, who were apparently under the influence of intoxicating liquor, were reportedly spotted fighting amongst themselves near a bookstore at Juana Osmeña Street corner General Maxilom Avenue at 5:30 a.m. on Saturday.

Personnel of the Mobile Patrol Group car number 007 who were patrolling in the area arrested the foreigners and brought them to Fuente Police Station.

The suspects were detained and were later released at past 3 p.m. after paying the administrative fine for violating City Ordinance 1929 or for drunkenness.

The incident was not the first the Papua New Guineans brushed with the law in Cebu since a number of them have been arrested in the past mostly for drunkenness.

The most prominent one was the arrest of Benedict Penini, an IT student, who smashed a taxi driver with a stone outside Maria Luisa Village in Barangay Banilad in September last year.

Penini, then 29, had a fight with fellow Papua New Guinean during a drinking session before reportedly turning his ire into the taxi driver.

Meanwhile, a man was found dead with gunshot wounds in his body in Barangay Labangon, Cebu City at past 3 a.m. last Saturday.

Roland Cuizon, 48, who worked as a painter, bore gunshot wounds on his back and chest which were believed to be the cause of his death.

The victim was holding a knife with a scabbard when police found his body.

Cuizon's live-in partner, Charlene Balobo, told the police that the victim would go wild whenever he gets drunk and that he also had a drinking session at 11 p.m. before he was found dead. (FREEMAN)