CEBU, Philippines — A mechanic and one other suspected to have been involved in illegal drugs were shot dead in two separate incidents early dawn Thursday under the jurisdiction of Carbon Police Station in Cebu City.
The first shooting incident happened at corner Borromeo and Climaco streets, Barangay Pahina Central at past midnight.
Police Major Angelito Vallecer, deputy chief of Carbon Police Station, identified the victim as Rodel Ensalada, 31, a mechanic from Sitio Omega of the said barangay but a native of Dalaguete town.
Initially, Vallecer said, that residents of the area revealed that Ensalada allegedly had duped several customers while working as a mechanic.
"Istorya sa mga taga diha, daghan lagi daw kuno ni gi-tabla, magpalit og pyesa, iuli na kay daot, di na mahagilap, nya naa pud siyay itaod na pyesa, nya ang pagbayad sa owner na sakyanan kay pang brand-new, nya ang gitaod diay is second-hand, madaot nya di na pud siya mahagilap," said Vallecer.
Witnesses said that Ensalada was on his way to take out the trash from where he was residing when he was shot by unidentified perpetrator.
Just three hours later, another shooting incident occurred in Sitio Bato, Barangay Ermita, Cebu City, still in the same day.
Vallecer said that as the shooting alarm happened at around 4 a.m., it was reported in their station at around 5 a.m.
The victim was identified as certain Geme Beth Sabellano, 31, a resident of the same area where he was gunned down by two unidentified suspects.
Vallecer said that they are looking into the information they received that the victim was a frequent illegal drug user.
"Pero di pa nato i-discount ang ubang anggulo, but so far nga na-interview nako ang iyang igsuon, mao ra gyud na ilang dako nga gikuan (tan-aw)," said Vallecer.
During the initial investigation, authorities found several empty shells of a 9mm pistol at the crime scene. Further, suspects were believed to have forcibly entered the house of the victim and shot him.
"Siya ra usa ato, kay naa man ta ni daw siyay live-in partner matod pa, pero daghan lagi kuno daw og death threat ingon iyang igsuon maong nisibat iyang live-inpartner," said Vallecer.
Further investigation also revealed that Sabellano has already fled Barangay Ermita. He just recently went back after two months.
"Bag-o pa ni sya mibalik mga two weeks pa daw kapin," said Vallecer.
With this, Vallecer added that there could be a possibility that Sabellano has been going from one place to another in relation to his alleged involvement in illegal drugs.
"Gipalawman pa sad namo ang investigation, but base sa iyang igsoon, mga silingan, kana maoy gitouhan nila nga dako og posibilidad," said Vallecer.
He also said that Sabellano wasn't included in their monitored list of illegal drug peddlers.
With these shooting incidents, Vallecer assured this isn't alarming since the two incidents were not connected and that it might have two different perpetrators.
"Dili ni sya alarming kay isolated man pud ni, nahitabo lang gyud nga duha ka incidents siya," said Vallecer. — GMR (FREEMAN)