CEBU, Philippines – A trisikad driver was stabbed by a man in barangay Punta Princesa, Cebu City yesterday morning after he failed to contribute any amount to buy liquor.

The victim, William Pepino, 37 years old, was joining a drinking spree in a funeral vigil of his neighbor when the suspect, Antonio Ceballos, 35, and a resident of the mountain barangay of Buhisan, also in this city, arrived and joined their circle, and allegedly began teasing the victim that he is “not supposed to be in the group since he did not contribute any amount of money.”

Pepino angrily stood up and replied to the suspect that “he is not afraid of him.” He was about to leave the area when the suspect, armed with a knife, reportedly suddenly stabbed him, hitting the left side of his body.

Pepino was rushed to the Cebu City Medical Center while the suspect fled.

Further investigation is yet to be conducted by the police for the possible arrest of the suspect.

In another bloody incident, a 22-year-old man is now behind bars after he reportedly shoot to death a guy he suspected to be a member of their rival gang.

Jeffrey Laspoña, a resident of barangay Pardo, was arrested after he allegedly killed a certain Jeko Kent Tumulak, 20, of barangay Inayawan at past 2 a.m. yesterday.

Initial investigation conducted by the Pardo Police stated that one Andro Aselo told them that the suspect, together with three other unidentified men believed to be members of the “Crips” gang, was on his way home waiting for a public utility jeepney when he saw Tumulak together with his friends coming out from the San Roque Chapel. In the process, the suspect and one of his companions pulled out their hand guns and fired at Tumulak.

Tumulak was able to run towards F. Jaca Street but stumbled which prompted the suspects to shot him again.

He sustained a gunshot wound to the head and another four on the back and was rushed by his father to the CCMC but expired minutes later.

Responding policemen of the Pardo Police Station led by PO3 Favios Ballesa were able to arrest the suspect and recovered from him a homemade caliber .38 revolver, five live bullets of caliber .38, one empty shell of .38 caliber revolver and one deformed slug of unknown caliber. All the pieces of evidence were turned over to the Cebu City Police Office-Homicide Section for proper disposition.

In an interview with the suspect yesterday, he ventilated his anger by admitting that the act was done in revenge. “Agi’g bawos to sa among kauban nga gipusil sad sa Bloods.”  

Laspoña, a father of two, also admitted to be a leader of the “Crips” gang, a known rival of the “Bloods” gang.

Further, a similar incident happened last Friday night in Pardo, between the two rival gangs, wherein an 18-year-old college student identified as Brian Navarro, was killed by a 16-year-old member of “Bloods”.

Police are set to file charges against Laspoña. — Antoniette Parce/MEEV (THE FREEMAN)