Drive-by shootings suspects charged

A complaint for illegal gun possession was  filed yesterday against the two men  linked to the spate of drive-by  shootings  in Cebu City.

Rhene Baclaan and Arnel Gomez were brought to the Cebu City Prosecutors’ Office for separate inquest proceedings.

Baclaan waived his right to a preliminary investigation.

Assistant Prosecutor Alex Gabud  filed the case with the Regional Trial Court and recommended P80,000 bail.

Gomez  said he would file  a counter-affdiavit within five days.

He was tagged the gunman in the shooting of Barangay Intelligence Netwerk member Catalino Entoma in Carbon and police asset Michael Moralde last week.

Baclaan, a member of the Bloods  gang, was arrested Sunday in a southern town after he was identified by witnesses as  one of the assailants riding a gray sedan during  shooting attacks in Cebu City.

Nine more witnesses showed up the at the police headquarters to identify the 22-year-old Baclaan, alias “Itsik,” in the various shootings.

Senior Supt. Melvin Buenafe, chief of the Cebu City police, said investigators are gathering  affidavits of witnesses to support additional charges to be filed against him.

Baclaan was  linked to  the shooting and wounding of three members of the rival Crips gang in  barangay Kinasang-an last Feb. 15.

He was reportedly seen riding a motorcycle roaming the streets.

Police said he had the reputation of being a  hitman of the Bloods.

Baclaan was also tagged  in the fatal shooting of a 14-year-old and wounding another,  both rival Crips gang members, in sitio Banawa, barangay Guadalupe last Feb. 12.

Police said Baclaan shot and wounded a Crips member in November 2011 in the same barangay.

Police said they confiscated from Baclaan a .45 pistol, a bonnet, a ball cap, empty shells of a .45 pistol and other ammunition. / ADOR VINCENT S. MAYOL WITH CORRESPONDENTs CHITO O. ARAGON AND RHEA RUTH V. ROSELL