2 men killed in Balamban
Two unidentified men believed to have been summarily executed were found with gunshot wounds to the head along the Transcentral Highway in Sitio Mayana, Barangay Gaas, Balamban, Cebu yesterday morning.
The victims are estimated to be in their 30s. One of them was wearing maong shorts and printed black gray shirt while the other was sporting blue jersey shorts and blue green shirt. Their bodies were found two to five meters away from each other.
Senior Police Officer 3 Benedicto Bobilles of Balamban Police Station said that former Barangay Gaas councilman Vicente Gallo reported to them the discovery of the dead persons past 5 a.m. yesterday.
Bobilles said the residents in the area heard a commotion before four gunshots rang out. A witness told the police that they heard voices of men pleading to spare their lives. Few minutes later, a series of gunshots was heard.
“Posible nga diri gyud sila gipusil kay nakita man nato nga presko pa ang mga dugo,” said Bobilles. The police, however, did not find empty shells of ammunition in the area.
But witnesses said they saw people onboard a dark car leaving the area where the bodies were found. There were, however, conflicting accounts from witnesses with some saying the car went to the direction of Balamban proper while the others stating it went to the direction of Cebu City.
“Medyo ngitngit pa man gyod ato maong wala naklaro sa atong witness kung unsa gyod nga color sa awto ang nakita basta dark daw,” Bobilles said.
Bobilles said they are now gathering CCTV footage along the Transcentral Highway to help them identify the vehicle used the by possible culprits. The police are also calling on those who have missing members of their family to coordinate with them.
“Kung naay nakaila ani sa mga victims based sa among gihatag nga description maayo unta kung makig-alayon namo kay dako ang ikatabang sa atong imbestigasyon kung mailhan sila aron sa pagsubay sa posibleng motibo,” Bobilles said.
Cebu Provincial Police Office director Senior Supt. Manuel Abrugena did not discount the possibility that the two were victims of summary killings. He immediately ordered the Balamban Police Station to conduct a random checkpoint along the Transcentral Highway.
“Conduct checkpoints and magkaroon ng regular mobile patrolling sa area para ma-check ang movements ng mga possible criminals dito sa areas na ito,” Abrugena said.
He said they will look into the possibility that the incident is connected with the previous killings wherein the victims were dumped in Barangay San Roque, Liloan, Cebu last week.
The victims, Stephen Del Corro and his girlfriend Jamie Mata, were linked by the police to illegal drug trade.
NEGATIVE EFFECT TO TOURISM
The series of killings in Cebu has concerned Vice Governor Agnes Magpale because of its possible effect on the tourism industry.
She urged the police to hasten the investigation and resolution of all the killings.
“I join you and I join everybody asking for the speedy resolution of cases,” she said.
Governor Hilario Davide III is also alarmed by the “daily occurrence” of killings in Cebu. He challenged the police to ‘ step up’ their measures especially with the latest incident in Balamban.
“Sige ta’g meetingmeeting nga mao nay buhaton but walay kasulbaran. What we need is madakpan ni sila, kining mga perpetrators,” Davide said.
“The police really, as I’ve told you yesterday, has to step up ug paspasan nila ang investigation,” he added.—/