Guard shoots lawyer dead over obstruction

CEBU CITY—A prominent lawyer here was killed and his son was wounded after they were shot by a security guard over what could be the shallowest of motives—road obstruction.

Jonathan Sanchez, 35, and guard at the construction site of a condominium project owned by the late businessman Richard King, said he shot Goering George Paderanga and son, Gerik, both lawyers, past 8 p.m. for blocking a road leading to the project site.

Goering and Gerik were just outside their law office on F. Ramos Street in Barangay Sta. Cruz when they were shot.

Sanchez was arrested in his parents’ house in Barangay Talamban here past 10 a.m. yesterday.

Goering, husband of Judge Sylva Aguirre-Paderanga of the Regional Trial Court Branch 16, died from three gunshot wounds in the body at the Cebu Velez General Hospital while his son is still fighting for his life as of yesterday afternoon.

Sanchez would be charged with murder and frustrated murder.

The guard said he became angry after the Paderangas blocked the road, preventing the entry of a cement mixer to the project site.

“The cement might dry up,” the guard told reporters.

The Paderangas’ office is along the narrow road leading to the project site of Crown Regency Club Ultima.

Sanchez said he did not argue with the Paderangas anymore to convince them to move away from the road. “If I call their attention, we would argue. They still would not heed my request,” said the guard. “So that was what I did. I shot them,” he said.

Sanchez belongs to the Invincible Armada Security Agency that was contracted by the project builder, Monocrete Construction Phils. Inc.