Consul general wounded in resto shooting: 2 Chinese killed

CEBU, Philippines - A birthday celebration ended in blood and death yesterday afternoon when one of the attendees shot at least three others, inclu-ding the celebrator, Song Ronghua, the Chinese Consul General to Cebu.

Ronghua was lucky to survive as he was only hit in the arm but the two other victims, Sun Shan and Hui Li, also of the Chinese consulate, passed away a few hours later. Shan was hit in his collar bone while Li was hit in her head.

Shan was a protocol officer while Li was a finance officer.

Ronghua is recuperating at a private hospital in Cebu City. 

Police identified the suspects as couple Li Qing Liang and Gou Jing. They were guests at the celebration. 

The couple was arrested at the Chinese consulate where they proceeded after the incident. Liang himself is a consul.

The incident happened at around 1:30 p.m. at Lighthouse restaurant along General Maxilom Avenue in Cebu City.

Footage from the restaurant’s closed-circuit television (CCTV) camera showed the group was celebrating Ronghua’s birthday at a function room and was nearing the end of their lunch when an argument ensued before the actual shooting.

The footage showed it was Liang, 60, who shot the victims but police later recovered the .45 caliber pistol from Jing, 57. Police recovered three empty shells and two deformed slugs from the crime scene.

Edward Japay and Jimmy Diches, blind performers, said they were in the function room singing for the celebration when they were told to stop reportedly upon Ronghua’s instruction.

Shortly thereafter, they noticed voices raised and people sounded like they were arguing. They, however, could not understand the words.

They then heard shots fired.

The restaurant’s security guard, Ronie Dacua, said he wanted to enter the function room, but he found out that his gun’s hammer was not functioning, prompting him to stay outside.

An attendant at the restaurant told The Freeman they reserved for 12 people for the celebration but only nine made it yesterday.

Supt. Romeo Santander, head of the city intelligence branch of the Cebu City Police Office, said the suspects were subjected to interrogation yesterday but further information about the case will be withheld upon advice of the PNP central office since the incident may involve national security.

Liang and Jing are detained at the CIB detention cell.

Yesterday, Larry Dominguez, NBI special investigator, went to the CCPO to ask for details of the case so the bureau can prepare in case it will be asked to assist in the investigation.

Vice Mayor Edgardo Labella has instructed the police not to leave any stone unturned in its probe.

Sought for comment, Philip Tan, former president of the Mandaue Chamber of Commerce and Industry (MCCI), said “naa tay territorial obligation to investigate but I’m sure the embassy will conduct their own investigation.”

“It so happened that this happened (here) in Cebu,” he said.

Tan said the Filipino-Chinese community in Cebu condoles with the family of the victims. — With Fatima R. Secuya and Ehda M. Dago-oc/JMO (FREEMAN)