2 die, 2 hurt in Cebu town disco riot

CEBU CITY—Two persons including a 16-year girl were killed while two others including a policeman were hurt when violence broke out inside the village disco in Barangay Nangka, Boljoon town, in southern Cebu on Friday night.

The fatalities were identified as Roger M. Leurque of Malabuyoc town and Maribeth Cardeño Ceciban, 16, a resident of Barangay Nangka.

PO1 Edwin Belamala and another resident Juditho Pilago, 30, were confined in separate hospitals.

PO3 Nelson Saquibal of Boljoon police station said four policemen including Belamala were securing the disco on Friday night in celebration of the eve of the village fiesta in honor of San Vicente Ferrer.

Leurque reportedly started a commotion past 9 p.m. and shouted at the people when Belamala approached and asked him to stop.

Belamala then turned his back, thinking that Leurque would heed his request. Leurque, however, got his 15-inch knife and stabbed the policeman in the back.

Leurque then grabbed Belamala’s M16 Armalite rifle. A scuffle ensued as he pulled the trigger and fired five shots.

Grade 9 pupil Ceciban, who was just an onlooker at the fete, was hit in the head, while Pilago was shot in his lower right leg.

PO1 Noel Pelone, who heard the gunshots, responded and shot Leurque using an Armalite rifle. Leurque suffered multiple gunshot wounds.

All the victims were brought to Oslob district hospital where Leurque and Ceciban were pronounced dead on arrival. RC