China consular execs in murder leave Cebu

MANILA, Philippines - The Chinese couple accused of shooting to death two consular officials and injuring another during a birthday party in a Cebu City restaurant were flown to Manila from Cebu last night.

Sources said they would be brought to Chinese embassy premises in Makati.

Earlier yesterday, the two were transferred to the regional police office at Camp Sergio Osmeña Sr. where they were picked up by Chinese embassy staff.

After their arrest on Wednesday, Li Qingliang and Gou Jing were brought to the Cebu City Police Office at Camp Sotero Cabahug, which is smaller than Camp Osmeña and where the suspects slept on a sofa in the holding area of the City Intelligence Branch (CIB).

Officials declined to reveal details of the suspects’ turnover to the Chinese embassy, like the exact time and date.

Police officials, including Chief Supt. Tom Bañas, also refused to comment on the case after emerging from a case conference in the morning.

The Chinese government has asked for custody of the two, citing their diplomatic immunity.

While the closed-door case conference was going on, an ambulance arrived.

Reporters said they saw the female suspect saying “I need medicine, I need medicine” while pointing to her chest.

A police source said the female suspect was suffering from hypertension.

It was also observed that the two have not changed their clothes since their arrest.

A police insider told CNN Philippines that the two asked for jackets.

Another source said a reenactment of the shooting incident was made during the case conference.

Also at the case conference were Chinese consular officials and representatives from the Department of Foreign Affairs.

Two police cars and about five motorcycle-riding SWAT escorted the suspects during their four-kilometer trip to Camp Sergio Osmeña Sr.

Sr. Supt. Rey Lyndon Lawas, chief of the Regional Investigation and Detective Management Division in Central Visayas, said that his orders were to supervise the transfer of the two suspects. He refused to divulge the exact reason for the transfer.

China’s consul general in Cebu Song Ronghua survived a bullet wound in the neck, but two of his staff members died during the lunchtime attack in a private room of Lighthouse restaurant in Cebu City.

Song’s deputy, Sun Shen, was shot in the neck and died. Also killed was Li Hui, a female finance officer at the consulate, who was shot in the head. – Dale Israel/Freeman