Urban poor leader shot dead in Lahug

CEBU, Philippines - An urban poor leader, who is among the fire victims fighting to rebuild their houses on the property owned by the University of the Philippines in Barangay Lahug, was shot dead by two unidentified gunmen Wednesday night.

Virgilio Gabiana succumbed to a gunshot wound to the body while being treated at the Perpe-tual Succour Hospital. Gabiana was on his way home to Sitio Kawayan where he also owns a house when the unidentified gunmen shot him past 11 p.m.

 Elsie Lapas, a resident in the area, said she was awakened by gunfire near her house. Her son went out to check and found out that their leader, who is known to them as Tatay Billy, had been shot. 

“Naghigda ra ko sa amoa, nagtoo man ko’g naay ga-birthday kay boto-boto na man. Mao ray among namat-an nga naa nay nag-agulo, nagbuy-od na,” Lapas said.

Bystanders in the area said they noticed two skinny young men wearing hooded jackets running away from the scene after the gunfire.

The suspects boarded a motorcycle waiting near the main gate of the UP-Cebu.

Crime scene investigators recovered two empty shells for caliber .45 pistol and a deformed slug near the victim.   

SPO4 Rogelio Cañete, homicide investigator, said prior to the incident there were three people asking for “Tatay Billy”. Cañete said a witness has recognized one of the suspects but is reportedly afraid to cooperate.

The investigator said one of the three served as the gunman, the other was lookout while the third suspect served as motorcycle driver. The police are still conducting investigation to determine the motive because the victim is reportedly involved in several urban poor organizations.

Aside from being the spokesperson of the fire victims at Sitio Avocado in Barangay Lahug, Gabiana also represented the residents occupying the lot owned by the Gaisanos in Sitio Kawayan.

Gabiana’s death has forced the fire victims in Lahug to cancel their protest against the UP-Cebu.

Eliseo Dolfan Jr., president of the Lahug Homeowners Association, said they were supposed to hold a protest rally in front of UP-Cebu yesterday to pressure the school administration to allow them to rebuild their houses.

UP-Cebu earlier asked the court to prevent the fire victims from rebuilding their houses on the 4,000-square meter property hit by fire last month.

UP-Cebu administration wanted to use the property for its high school building. — /FPL (FREEMAN)