German slain, 2 hurt in Cebu shooting

MANILA, Philippines - A German was killed while a Frenchman and an Indian were wounded when two unidentified men shot them in a fastfood restaurant in Talisay City, Cebu at dawn yesterday.

Henry Haffner, 31, died while being treated in a hospital in Cebu City, where Frenchman Julian Millard, 31, and his Indian friend Cheten Saparaiya, 31, were also rushed for treatment.

Reports said Haffner was shot by two assailants as he and his wife were about to step out of the restaurant. Superintendent Reycel Carmelo Dayon, Talisay City police chief, said Saparaiya, Millard and a Filipina were eating when two Filipinos made fun of the Indian.

Saparaiya, who can understand Cebuano, confronted the two men, which resulted in a heated argument. A security guard pacified them. The Filipinos went out.

The Haffners were about to step out of the restaurant when two armed men arrived and shot Henry. Two other men reportedly served as lookouts.

Dayon said Haffner managed to run to the second floor but one of the assailants followed him and shot him repeatedly.

The gunmen approached Millard and Saparaiya and shot them several times before fleeing.

Investigators recovered shells for a 9mm, a caliber .45 and caliber .40 pistol at the crime scene. – Bryner Diaz/Freeman