Chinese consulate office in Cebu shuts down after diplomats’ slays

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CEBU CITY, Philippines—The Chinese consulate office in Cebu has temporarily closed down following the killing of two officers and wounding of a consul general by the husband of a fellow officer inside a restaurant in Cebu City on Thursday.

A notice posted on the door of the consulate office at the Cebu Business Park states that operations will resume on Oct. 26.

Security guard Raul Cataluna said they were advised that no transaction would  transpire in the consulate office until Oct. 26.

Consul Gou Jing and her husband, Li Qing Ling, were taken into custody on Wednesday afternoon following the shooting of Chinese Deputy Consul Sun Shan, finance officer Hui Li and Chinese Consul General Song Rong Hua inside the function room of the Lighthouse Restaurant along General Maxilom Avenue in Cebu City about 1:20 p.m.

Li and Sun died while undergoing treatment in the hospital while Song remained in stable condition, as of Thursday.

Police said an argument broke out in the middle of the birthday celebration, which was followed by bursts of gunfire.

Footage from the closed circuit television cameras taken inside the restaurant showed that Li was holding a gun when Hui who was in front of him fell to the ground. He then placed the gun on the table, which was later picked up by his wife who placed it inside a paper bag as she walked out of the restaurant.

The couple were later arrested at the consulate office.

Chief Supt. Prudencio Tom Banas, police director for Central Visayas, said no cases would be filed against the couple who had invoked diplomatic immunity.

He said representatives from the Department of Foreign Affairs in Manila have arrived in Cebu to take custody of the couple who would be turned over to the Chinese Embassy in Manila.  SFM

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