Cebu frat member killed, pal wounded by rival fratmen

CEBU CITY — A Tau Gamma Phi Sigma fraternity member was killed while his companion was injured when they were ambushed allegedly by two members of the rival Alpha Kappa Rho (Akrho) fraternity in Minglanilla town Wednesday night.

Dexter de la Calzada 23, was shot in the back, the bullet exiting through his chest and wounding Jacob Villeta, 20, also in the back. De la Calzada was riding tandem with Villeta on a motorcycle.

Police later arrested suspects Lony Tapdusan and Jay Canete. A .357 Magnum revolver with four bullets and two spent shells was confiscated from Tapdusan but he denied involvement in the incident.

Tapdusan said the gun was merely left in his care by a certain Melchor, said to be another Akrho member.

But police found a witness, Eden Pialogo, who claimed to have seen the shooting.

Pialogo said he saw Tapdusan and Canete hanging around near the cemetery as if waiting for somebody. Curious, he stood nearby to watch.

He said that when Villeta and De la Calzada passed by, Tapdusan and Canete pulled out their guns and started firing, even running after the speeding motorcycle as they continued to shoot.

Villeta told police he and De la Calzada saw Tapdusan and Canete sitting by the road near the Sanctuary Memorial Park.

Villeta, who was driving the motorcycle, said they did not mind the two, thinking they were just residents there whiling away their time.

But as they passed, Villeta said he heard what seemed to be gunshots.

Almost immediately after, Villeta said he heard De la Calzada cry out "Ok-ok, ta. Padagon ug kusog kay gipusil ko (Speed away, we’re being fired at)"

Villeta realized they were being fired at by members of the rival Akhro fraternity, "Ok-ok" being a derogatory term used to refer to members of that fraternity.

Villeta sped away and heard several more shots fired toward their direction. — Freeman News Service