Shooting kills man, hurts driver

CEBU, Philippines- A 25-year-old man died while a motorcycle-for-hire driver was injured after they were shot by an unidentified assailant in Barangay Inayawan, Cebu City past midnight yesterday.

 John Brendo Balbuena, a resident of Sitio Torre in the said barangay, succumbed to gunshot wounds in his left and right chest and in the left side of his body. He was declared dead on arrival at Cebu City Medical Center.

 Jomel Taboada, 25, a resident of Sitio Greenhills, Barangay Cogon Pardo, Cebu City, sustained gunshot wound in his left foot.

 Police investigation shows that the victims were shot by unidentified gunman wearing black shirt, black denim shorts, and black bonnet.

The assailant was accompanied by a man waiting on a motorcycle.

Taboada told the police that he parked his motorcycle in the area and was supposed to buy balut (boiled fertilized duck egg) while Balbuena was standing nearby.

 Based on the testimonies of the witnesses in the area, they heard series of gunfire. Balbuena reportedly managed to run but he slumped onto the ground and was shot again by the gunman. Taboada, on the other hand, ran for safety but not before he got shot in the left foot.

 Senior Police Officer 4 Rey Cuyos, of the Cebu City Police Office Homicide Section, said that Taboada may just have been hit by a stray bullet. He noted that the gunman did not chase after Taboada.

Cuyos said that Balbuena was the real target because the gunman finished him off after he fell on the ground.

The gunman fled on board the waiting motorcycle and headed towards Poblacion Pardo. Members of the Pardo Police Station conducted a hot pursuit operation but failed to arrest the gunman. (FREEMAN)