One dead, three hurt in less than an hour

It was a bloody Sunday yesterday in Cebu City after two separate shooting incidents in less than an hour left one dead and three persons wounded.

In barangay Lahug, Renato Limas, a plumber, was having a drinking session in his brother’s house in sitio Kamagong, with his cousin when a man suddenly appeared and shot Limas at past 2 .am.

Limas was hit in the hip, when he tried to run away from his attacker. He was rushed to the hospital where he’s recuperating from his wound.

Witnesses later identified the gunman, who fled after the incident, as Edmon “Mar-mar” Quirante, who lives in the same barangay as the victim.

Police are looking into a personal grudge as the possible motive of the shooting.

Thirty minutes later in barangay Kalunasan, a man armed with a .45 caliber pistol shot dead an 18-year-old boy and wounded his two companions while they were dancing in the middle of the dancing area during a benefit dance in the barangay’s sitio Dapdap, which was celebrating its fiesta yesterday.

Raul Ragasajo died after he was shot in the left chest, stomach and back. His cousin, a certain Brendo, 21, was took a bullet in the nape which exited on his nose. His other companion, Winjun Murillo, 18, was shot in left cheek with the bullet exiting on his right eye.

Brendo and Murillo survived the attack and are recuperating at the hospital.

Police identified the shooter as Frank Simon “Hanky” Ibon of barangay Kalunasan, who fled on a Honda Wave motorcycle which was then parked 15 meters away from the benefit dance area.

Police later recovered five empty shells of a .45 caliber from the crime scene and the suspect’s motorcycle.

“The victims said that they didn’t know the suspect, said SPO4  Alex Dacua, Cebu City Homicide investigator, in Cebuano.

Brendo and Murillo told police that they didn’t know the suspect and they didn’t have any known enemies in the area.

Dacua said a background check on Ibon showed that he had several theft complaints at the barangay.

“Basin nagkabikil sila pagsayaw-sayaw nila unya pwerting lagota na ani niya (It’s possible that they slighted the suspect while they were dancing, who could have angered the suspect),” said Dacua.

Police, however,  are further investigating the incident and are looking for Ibon, who remains at large.