Notorious thief shot dead while sleeping in Cebu City

| File photo

CEBU CITY, Philippines – A 29-year-old notorious thief, was shot dead by an unidentified gunman while sleeping in Sitio Punyang, Barangay Duljo Fatima, Cebu City on Thursday afternoon, February 1, 2024. 

A police report showed that the deadly shooting incident happened at around 3:45 p.m. on Friday. 

The victim was identified as Gee Ronan Vernal Oraide alias “Jordan,” 29, jobless and a resident of Sitio Puntod, Barangay Mambaling.

READ: Motorcycle thief killed in shootout with police in Buenavista, Bohol

According to the report, personnel from the Mambaling Police Station were initially informed that the victim was still breathing and that a request was already sent out for an ambulance at the Cebu City Emergency Medical Services. 

However, emergency personnel declared that the body had no signs of life at around 4:10 p.m. 

Responding officers said they found the victim lifeless and lying in a supine position.

Oraide reportedly sustained one gunshot wound at his right lower armpit, which resulted to his instantaneous death. 

During the processing of Scene of the Crime Operatives (SOCO), they discovered one empty shell of a .45 caliber pistol at the crime scene, stated the report. 

READ: Robbery suspect grabs cop’s gun, is shot dead

Initial investigation revealed that Oraide was sleeping on a wooden bench beside a billiard table when an individual wearing a face mask approached him. The suspect then hot Oraide before fleeing the crime scene.

The victim’s cadaver lies at the Saint Francis located at N. Bacalso Street, as of this writing.

As part of their follow-up operation, police personnel are scouring the area where the shooting took place to check the possible entrance and exit points of the masked gunman, Police Lieutenant Colonel Janette Rafter, Deputy Director for Operations of the Cebu City Police Office (CCPO) said. 

Rafter also relayed that Oraide had multiple run-ins with the law since he was only 22-years-old.

After his first arrest, Oraide was sent to jail again for violating Republic Act No. 9165 or the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002. When he was 27-years-old, he went back to jail for a case of theft.

According to Rafter, the victim was released from the Cebu City Jail only recently.

Furthermore, the report stated that Oraide’s mother told police that she and her daughter were recently victimized by Oraide which is why he left home and ended up in the adjacent barangay.