Three dead in KTV bar shooting

CEBU, Philippines - Three men were killed instantly while another one was seriously injured after an unidentified man opened fire at them inside a KTV bar in Barangay Mambaling early yesterday morning.

Two of the fatalities were identified as Ramil Bayotas, 30, an employee of the Cebu Quality Electro-Plating based in Mambaling and a resident of Barangay Buhisan; and Gilberto Sabijon, 25, a motorcycle-for-hire driver and a native of Sindajon, Zamboanga Del Norte, currently residing in Barangay San Nicolas. The third fatality was still unidentified as of press time.

Injured was Gely Laag, 28, of Lipata, Minglanilla, a construction worker.

PO3 Wetzel Berry, investigating officer of the Homicide Section, said the victims were drinking at the Limbaga KTV bar and were just about to leave around 3:30 a.m. when a man entered the bar and shot them several times.

Berry said all fatalities were shot in the chest.

Laag, who was at the cashier’s area to pay their bill, was hit in the abdomen and in one of his legs.

The assailant then approached another man after the shooting and together they casually walked away from the area.

Residents near the crime scene took Laag to the Cebu City Medical Center where he was taken directly to the operating room.

No shells were recovered from the crime scene which led police to believe the assailant used a revolver to shoot the victims.

Berry said they still have no clue as to the motive behind the incident but it appeared the shooting was a premeditated attack.

The victims, who were frequent customers of the KTV bar, had been in the bar since 10 p.m., they were the only remaining customers at the time of the shooting, although the employees of the said establishment were still there, Berry said.

The cadavers were taken to the Sure Life Funeral Homes. — (FREEMAN)