Mistaken identity eyed in shooting of 17-year-old

CEBU, Philippines - A 17-year old girl was shot dead by an unidentified man in Sitio Sudom, Barangay Duljo Fatima, past 12 midnight Sunday.

The victim, Analiza Cabaluna, was reportedly sitting outside her house with her live-in partner when she was shot. 

According to Police Officer 3 Winston Ybañez, investigator of the homicide section of the Cebu City Police Office, they suspect that Cabaluna’s shooting is a case of mistaken identity, considering that the place where she was sitting was not well lit.

Ybañez said that while Cabaluna was with her live-in partner, Francis Comedero, the latter saw on the wall what apparently was the tip of a gun. This immediately was followed by burst of gunshots.

The gunman, whose face was not seen by Comedero, immediately sped off. 

Cabaluna was hit on the shoulder and was immediately brought to the Cebu City Medical Center. But around 2:45 a.m, the victim was pronounced dead.

Earlier this month, Ybañez said a shooting incident also took place near the area where a friend of Cabaluna’s relative was shot dead.

Ybañez said that this supports their suspicion that Cabaluna may have been a victim of mistaken identity, but they will be conducting further investigation to determine the motive of the crime.

The police were able to retrieve four empty shells of a caliber 45 and two deformed slugs.  — ? with reports from Jojo Ugdol of Banat News/ATO (FREEMAN)