ILOILO City – Thursday’s brazen killing of a minor in broad daylight alarmed Mayor Jerry Treñas.
Incidents like this won’t happen, he said, if barangay officials are strict in enforcing guidelines of the metro’s general community quarantine (GCQ).
Under GCQ, persons aged below 21 years, 61 years and above, immune-deficient with comorbidities and pregnant women are prohibited from leaving their homes except when going out for essentials.
Despite this prohibition, 17-year-old John Paulo Yson was at a computer shop in Barangay Habog-habog Salvacion, Molo district where he was shot dead.
Wearing a helmet and facemask, a gunman walked into the shop and left immediately after pulling the trigger on the teenager three times around 2:41 p.m.
The gunman fled the scene onboard a motorcycle of a companion who served as lookout.
The victim sustained gunshot wounds on the face, back of the body and right shoulder. He died on the spot.
Yson’s killing could be a case of mistaken identity, according to Major Engelbert Banquillo of Molo police station, citing their initial investigation.
“A drug personality was seen inside the computer shop before the shooting happened. He (Yson) was probably mistakenly identified because he sat on the chair where the drug personality was sitting,” Banquillo theorized.
Aside from mistaken identity, Banquillo said probers were also not discounting the possibility that the incident might have been triggered by dispute over computer games.
Jeck Conlu, focal person of the city government’s COVID Team, said Treñas ordered a thorough investigation. He is set to meet Iloilo City Police Office officer-in-charge Lieutenant Alexis Relado.
“Si Mayor Jerry Treñas indi gusto sang amo ‘ni nga mga hitabo sa aton syudad,” stressed Conlu, who also heads the Public Safety and Transportation and Management Office (PSTMO).
The city’s chief executive, according to Conlu, ordered all barangay officials in the six city districts to strictly enforce GCQ rules.
Treñas vowed to help the victim’s family, he added.
As to the operation of the computer shop, Conlu said he already sent people to check if it has permit to operate.
Conlu noted that under the mayor’s latest directive, computer shops are not allowed to open.
“Supposed to be wala kita minor sa computer-ran subong. Ginpakadtuan sa aton team kag ipa-check kon may lisensya ina sya kag ngaa nag operate,” said Conlu./PN
