House strafed twice in a week

Unidentified gunmen strafed a house in barangay Ilihan, Tabogon town in northern Cebu at midnight Wednesday in what police suspect is linked to land dispute.

It was the second time in a week that the house of Jaime, 47, and Judely America, 39, was raked with gunfire.

No one was injured in both incidents.

SPO1 Jesus Suan said the first attack happened around 3 a.m. Thursday last week.

Jaime and their two children aged 20 and 17 were at their home when three men peppered the house with bullets. Judely was tending to their stall in Carbon Market in Cebu City at the time of the attack.

Nine spent .9mm shells and two spent 5.56mm cal. shells, the ammunition used in an M16 assault rifle, were recovered from a spot outside the house.

In the second incident Wednesday, the three perpetrators also lobbed two grenades which did not explode.

One grenade was found in front of the house while the other one was recovered in the terrace of Judely’s brother, Jason Mangubat.

The safety pin of one grenade was removed. Also recovered from the crime scene were five spent 5.56mm shells, an empty .45 cal. shell and 20 spent .9mm shells.

Police said they suspect that the motive of the two incidents were to scare off the America family and force them to leave.

Police said that the 250-square meter property where the house of the Americas stand are being claimed by another family.

Police said the Americas have presented a copy of the land title to prove that they legitimately own the property.

Police are withholding the identity of the other property claimant pending further investigation.

Read more...