2 China diplomats killed

CONSUL, WIFE ARRESTED FOR SHOOTING CHINA DIPLOMATS IN CEBU

A Chinese consul and his wife were arrested after the shooting of three Chinese consulate officials inside a restaurant in Cebu City past 1:30 p.m. Wednesday.

Two Chinese diplomats in Cebu were killed and the consul-general was wounded Wednesday by a Chinese attacker armed with a pistol during a birthday celebration at a restaurant, police said.

Police Chief superintendent Prudencio Tom Bañas said it was not immediately clear what prompted the attacker to open fire and kill Deputy Consul-General sun shan and finance officer hui Li of the Chinese Consulate in central Cebu City.

Consul-General song Ronghua was wounded in the attack and was in stable condition at a Cebu hospital, Bañas said.

“This is really tragic,” Bañas said by telephone. “We’re trying to find out what prompted this shooting.”

A Chinese couple, including the person suspected of firing the gun, was taken into custody by police. The woman in police custody worked at the consulate and claimed diplomatic immunity, declining to immediately provide any statement to police, Bañas said. Reports differed on whether the man or the woman was the suspected shooter.

A police report said investigators recovered the handgun used in the attack.

Police were in touch with the Chinese embassy in Manila. embassy spokeswoman Li Lingxao said Chinese authorities were still verifying the facts in the attack.