Cebu gang war claims boy, 17; 2 others killed in attacks

CEBU CITY, Philippines - The conflict between rival gangs in Cebu City has again claimed a young life, this time that of a 17-year-old Bloods member. His death came just an hour before two young men were found with gunshot wounds in the head, in what Cebu City Police Office (CCPO) Director Patrocinio Comendador suspects to be “drug-related." The victims were identified as Richard “Etat" Quijano, 19, and Ken Laresma, 18, both residents of Spolarium St., sitio Catwalk, barangay Duljo-Fatima. Quijano, who was allegedly involved in robberies in the barangay, had one gunshot wound in the head; Laresma had three. Prior to the discovery of their bodies in Barangay San Nicolas Proper, Quijano allegedly asked Laresma to join him in a meal in Barangay Pasil. Before that, at 2 a.m. Wednesday, the 17-year-old Bloods gang member was walking with a group of friends at the Private Road-P. del Rosario Ext. junction in Barangay Sambag I when two persons approached them. One of the men, who was holding a gun, suddenly fired at him several times. The minor died of a gunshot wound in the right side of his body, while two people, who happened to be nearby, were also hit by stray bullets. Noel Labines, 30, took a bullet in the buttocks, while Kenneth Labiaga, 18, was injured in the right hand. They were two of three persons who were injured in three shooting incidents that happened from early Tuesday night to Wednesday dawn, in a span of eight hours. The two attackers fled in a waiting taxicab, which sped toward V. Rama Ave. In a news conference, Comen-dador said the Homicide Section is now working on the identities of the perpetrators, who are believed to be members of a rival gang. He said witnesses will be invited to look at photographs of gang members they compiled for possible identification. The first incident took place on Plaridel St., Barangay Ermita at 7:50 p.m., Tuesday. Two men, one of them armed with a .45 pistol, attacked truck driver Jorge Jayme, 29, who was sitting on a bamboo bench. Jayme, who was wounded in his thighs, told Homicide Section investigators led by SPO1 Roger Nedamo that the men fired at him unprovoked. Three empty .45 pistol bullet shells were recovered at the scene. Jayme was taken to the Cebu City Medical Center for treatment. With a Mobile Patrol Group team led by Chief Insp. Arnel Banzon, Nedamo and his men were also the ones who rushed to Sitio Miller, Barangay San Nicolas Proper after receiving a report on two dead men with gunshot wounds to the head around 3 a.m. Wednesday. Duljo-Fatima tanod Roben Vasayllaje confirmed that Quijano was involved in several robberies in the barangay. He said that early this year, they arrested Quijano for robbery. He and other barangay tanods were on patrol when they heard about the attack on Quijano and Laresma. Vasayllaje, who was related to Laresma, said that prior to their deaths, Quijano invited Laresma to a meal in the neighboring Barangay Pasil. Instead of going to Pasil, Quijano reportedly headed to San Nicolas Proper for a still unspecified reason. Comendador, however, is inclined to believe that the killing was drug-related. The victims were reportedly heard saying, “Ayaw bay (don’t, buddy)," before gunfire was heard. As of last night, however, nobody claimed to have witnessed the shooting. Vasayllaje said Lares-ma was not involved in any criminal activity. - Sun.Star Cebu