Chinese consul general, 2 others hurt in Cebu City shooting

CEBU DAILY NEWS PHOTO/Christian Maningo

CEBU CITY — At least three persons were wounded in a noontime shooting incident inside the Lighthouse Restaurant along General Maxilom in this city.

The three persons wounded include Chinese Consul General Song Ronghua who is now undergoing treatment in a Cebu City hospital.

A group of nine persons were having lunch at 1:32 p.m. inside the function room when gunshots were heard.

The victims were brought to a nearby hospital while police spoke to witnesses to identify the gunman.

The crowd of onlookers and the presence of ambulances and police cars caused heavy congestion along the uptown road.

Councilor Dave Tumulak, head of Cebu City’s Command Center, said the suspect who was identified as a certain Li Qing Ling is now in police custody.

Inquirer Visayas reported that the two others injured were identified as Hui Li and Sun Shen. Both are members of the consul general’s staff.

Tumulak said he received a call from the Chinese Consulate Office shortly after the shooting incident broke at about 1:30 p.m. to verify reports on Ronghua’s wounding.

Some members of the Chinese community in Cebu have also been calling other city officials to verify reports of the shooting, he added.