Former CPDRC inmate killed in Dalaguete

CEBU, Philippines - A former inmate of the Cebu Provincial Detention and Rehabilitation Center was shot dead by unidentified men at his residence in Dalaguete, Cebu Thursday dawn.

Gerald Gesim, 31, of Sitio Ilaya in Barangay Poblacion, was killed immediately after sustaining gunshot wounds to his head and shoulder.

Police Officer 3 Jehaziel Huyo-a of the Dalaguete Police Station said they are eyeing illegal drugs as the motive behind the killing as packs of suspected shabu and drug paraphernalia were found at the crime scene.

Huyo-a said at around 5:45 a.m. last Thursday, their office received a phone call from Poblacion barangay captain Ernesto Tangpos asking assistance about the discovery of a dead body.

He said an informant, who is also a resident of Sitio Ilaya, told them that he heard at least five gunshots the night before Gesim’s body was found and later saw two men running away.

Huyo-a said the neighbors found Gesim outside his shanty already bloodied with gunshot wounds to the head and shoulder.

The responding policemen found at the crime scene three live ammunitions of .9mm cal., one slug of unknown caliber, one live bullet for super .38 cal., one matchbox loaded with three sachets of suspected shabu and several drug paraphernalia.

Huyo-a said Gesim had been detained at the CPDRC for rape and was discharged in November last year.

He said because of the packs of suspected shabu found at the crime scene, they are focusing their investigation on illegal drugs as motive for the killing.

However, Huyo-a said they are still considering all other possible angles. — Ma. Fatima R. Secuya/LPM (FREEMAN)