Man shot dead; police urge public to help recover loose firearms

CEBU, Philippines - Police investigators are looking at a love angle in the shooting to death of a laborer in Barangay Cogon-Pardo last Monday night.

Ruf Heyrana, 22, resident of Ramona Village, Talisay City, died of three gunshot wounds in his back and one in his face. PO1 Nilo Aventurado of the homicide section said that the victim was walking on his way to the house of his former live-in partner to fetch his two-year-old child when an unidentified gunman shot him several times.

“Bale hugman sa unta niya ang ilang anak kay mag-birthday na ugma (today), iya untang i-treat (he would have wanted to treat his son for his birthday today) ,” Aventurado said.

The police believe that the gunman is the new lover of the victim’s former live-in partner. Aside from the love angle, the police are also looking at the possibility of a land dispute because the victim owns a parcel of land in Talisay that is also claimed by his relative.

Meanwhile, the Police Regional Office (PRO) 7 is urging the public to cooperate in recovering loose firearms to prevent a similar incident in Connecticut wherein 20 school children and six adults were massacred.

PRO-7 deputy director for operations, Sr. Supt. Louie Oppus, said that it is easy to get firearms in the United States while the Philippines is among those which has the strictest law in owning it.

“We are fairly okey here, ang gihangyo lang sa PNP is the cooperation of each and everyone,” said Oppus at the 888 News Forum yesterday.

Oppus said that Cebu is the best gunsmith in the whole world.

Only that the PNP has a problem for those owners who do not follow the procedures especially if they transfer residence to other places without informing the PNP. 

Oppus said that they are trying to recover around 6,000 loose firearms in the country now.

He said that these unrenewed licenses are illegal per se but they have to send letters to the owners and after six months still not renewed, the license shall be revoked.

“For me personally, I really would like nga ang uniformed service lang ang magdala og firearms,” Oppus said. —FPL (FREEMAN)