Police Files

FARMER GUNNED DOWN

A 38-YEAR-OLD farmer was shot down by two unidentified assailants in barangay Babag, Cebu City.

Police are checking if the killing of Joselito Callente had something to do with illegal numbers game locally known as masiao.

SPO1 Ruth Violango of the homicide section of the Cebu City Police Office (CCPO) said investigators are looking into reports that the victim had been accused of stealing six fighting cocks worth P20,000 each.

Police said Callente was in his store tallying numbers for masiao when a motorcycle with two men on board arrived past 7 p.m. last Tuesday. Callente’s wife was also in the store.

The backrider went to the door of the store and without a word shot Callente. The driver who positioned in front of the store  also opened fire.

The victim’s wife was unharmed.

The assailants drove off after the attack./REPORTER RHEA RUTH V. ROSELL

HABAL DRIVER STABBED DEAD

A 25-YEAR-OLD habal-habal driver was stabbed dead by another habal-habal driver in barangay Poblacion Oriental, Consolacion town, northern Cebu.

Junosis Peter Semblante succumbed to multiple stab wounds in the body.

Police said Semblante learned on Tuesday morning that his cousin identified only as Jimmy had figured in an argument with Elizer Lalaguna, 31.

Semblante tried looking for Lalaguna and the two men argued when they crossed paths.

The argument ended in the stabbing of Semblante.

Lalaguna fled after the incident./CORRESPONDENT NORMAN V. MENDOZA

STEP-GRANDFATHER ACCUSED OF RAPE

A 13-YEAR-OLD girl accused her step-grandfather of repeatedly raping her in their home in barangay Tabunok, Talisay City, southern Cebu.

Police said the girl alleged that she was raped several times last year and finally reported to authorities when she was raped again around 6 p.m. yesterday.

The girl reported to the barangay tanods who then coordinated with the Talisay police.

Police arrested the step-grandfather at home. He denied the allegation against him and said he was ready to face the charges./CORRESPONDENT GABRIEL C. BONJOC

MAN FOUND DEAD AT HOME

A 36-YEAR-OLD man was found dead in his rented house in barangay Poblacion, Toledo City.

Pedro Sibla Jr. was found lifeless on top of a bed by his niece around 4 p.m. last Tuesday.

Police said the body will be autopsied to determine the cause of death.

Police said the man was hounded by family problems.

Sibla had tried to kill himself thrice and at one point drank a bottle of kerosene.

Last Monday, Sibla visited his mother and informed her that his live-in partner left and brought their two kids.

Police said the man was heard telling his son, “Pagbalik ninyo, dong, patay nako (When you come back, I’m already dead).”/UP Masscom Intern Peter L. Romanillos

CAMPAIGN AGAINST LOOSE FIREARMS

POLICE are encouraging gun owners to have their firearms licensed.

Records showed that from January to April this year, there are 20,898 firearms in Central Visayas whose licenses were not renewed, said Supt. Rex Derilo, head of the Firearms Explosives Security and Guards Supervision Section (FESAGSS), in yesterday’s Talakayan sa Isyung Pulis (TSIP).

Firearms with unrenewed licenses are considered loose firearms, which violates the Republic Act 8294 also known as the Illegal Possession of Firearms Act, said Derilo.

Derilo said the number of unrenewed gun licenses in Central Visayas increased this year compared to the first four months last year.

Based on the records of National Firearms Control Program (NFCP), Derilo said there are 27,819 unrenewed gun licenses in Central Visayas.

Supt. Rodulfo Albotra, chief of the Provincial Intelligence Branch of the Cebu Provincial Police Office, said more police checkpoints will be conducted as part of the police’s campaign against loose firearms.

From January to March, the CPPO recorded 117 crime incidents involving loose firearms. Forty-one loose firearms were seized from that period.

In Cebu City, 93 crime incidents involved loose firearms from January to March.

Senior Supt. Melvin Ramon Buenafe, Cebu City police chief, said there were 37 robbery cases involving loose firearms from January to March where 62 loose firearms were recovered and 94 persons for possessions of unlicensed firearms.

From January to March, the Mandaue City Police Office recorded 23 crime incidents involving loose firearms while the Lapu-lapu City Police Office recorded 26 crime incidents involving loose firearms.

In Bohol, 78 crime incidents involved loose firearms, while 59 were recorded in Negros Oriental. Siquijor recorded zero incident involving loose firearms./ REPORTER RHEA RUTH V. ROSELL