Violence mar Holy Week
The observance of Maundy Thursday and Good Friday in Cebu was tainted with violence, resulting in the deaths of at least five people and injuries of five others.
The crime incidents happened despite police claim that the observance of the Holy Week was "generally peaceful."
In Cebu City, t hree people were killed, i ncluding a fraternity leader, in separate shooting incidents.
Ariel Alia, 34, resident of San Antonio Street in Barangay Hipodromo, Cebu City, was shot dead by unidentified motorcycle- r i ding men past 6 p. m. on Good Friday.
Alia, chapter president of Alpha Kappa Rho Fraternity, was walking along the road on his way to visit his mother when the unidentified gunmen shot him. Homicide investigators recovered two empty shells for caliber .45 pistol and a slug from the crime scene.
Bonifacio Cabigon, Jr., 28, and Nelson Sanchez, 27, both residents of Barangay Ermita, were also killed by unidentified assailants midnight on Holy Thursday.
Personal grudge is being looked into by police investigators as possible motive.
A certain Recles Navarro, 35, was injured after he was shot allegedly by Ray Luna. The shooting incident happened on Good Friday in Barangay Labangon. The suspect fled after the incident.
Geolyn Legaspi, 37, resident of Sitio Calumbuyan, Barangay Toong, was also injured in the hip after he was allegedly shot by Cresente Sabella, 55, resident of the same place. The suspect was immediately arrested.
A certain James Sanchez, 31, resident of Malabuyoc, Cebu, sustained gunshot wound to the right thigh after a gun allegedly pawned to him accidentally went off. IN THE PROVINCE In Bantayan Island, Joseph Tibay Jr., 39, was declared dead on arrival at Bantayan District Hospital after he was shot on Good Friday by a security guard inside Sugar Beach Resort in Barangay Pooc, Santa Fe.
The suspect, Antonio Cañas, 34, surrendered to the town's chief of police, Senior Inspector Romeo Caacoy.
Caacoy, in a telephone interview, said the victim was among those who claimed ownership of the lot where the resort is located. The suspect was allegedly hired by another claimant of the lot.
The victim sustained at least six gunshot wounds to the body. He was rushed by the responding policemen to the hospital but was pronounced dead on arrival.
The guard surrendered to the police with his caliber .38 revolver.
Caacoy said the suspect claimed self-defense. Cañas told the police that the victim allegedly attacked him with a bottle after he tried to prevent him from entering the resort.
Caacoy said the Municipal Peace and Order Council has already discussed the situation and has urged all lot claimants, especially the two prominent families, to withdraw the security guards they have hired to secure the area.
Caacoy said in lieu of private guards, police personnel will be deployed to maintain peace and order in the area.
In another shooting incident, a 20-year-old man died after he was shot by unidentified gunman Friday dawn in Barangay Tubod, Minglanilla.
Reymart Claritan was declared dead on arrival at the Minglanilla District Hospital.
A concerned citizen brought him to the hospital after he was seen with a gunshot wound to the body. Police investigators have yet to identify the culprit.
Meanwhile, a farmer was injured after he was shot by unidentified assailants Thursday in Barangay Candabong, Alcantara. Ariel Bacug was rushed to the hospital by the responding policemen.
His wife called for police help after she saw her husband injured after two motorcycle-riding men shot the victim.
A 51-year-old man was also injured after he was stabbed several times by his nephew on Thursday in Barangay Don Andres Soriano, Toledo City.
Romeo Parame suffered multiple stab wounds to the body after he was attacked by Danilo Pantilagan, 49.
Police investigators eyed jealousy as motive in the attack. Initial investigation revealed that the suspect believes that the victim had an illicit affair with his wife.
In Lapu-Lapu City, a 51-year-old man was hacked to death by his drunk neighbor in Sitio Jansen, Barangay Mactan, Lapu-Lapu City last Friday afternoon.
Elioterio Inot, a carpenter, sustained wounds to the head and arms after Ponciano Caballero, 36, hacked him several times.
Investigation revealed that Inot was on his way home when the suspect attacked him without any provocation. Caballero was immediately arrested by the responding policemen.
Despite these incidents, Chief Superintendent Sheldon Jacaban, deputy regional director for administration of Police Regional Office 7, said the observance of Maundy Thursday and Good Friday was "generally peaceful."
Jacaban and Senior Superintendent Clifford Gairanod, Cebu Police Provincial Office director, conducted an inspection in the province during the Holy Week. They were seen roving the province with big motorcycles.
Jacaban said he was satisfied with the security preparations implemented by police stations in different towns.