Chinese shooting suspects under local police custody

Li Qing Liang was escorted out of CIB past noon today.

The two Chinese suspects in the recent shooting incident that wounded Chinese Consul General Song Ronghua and killed two other diplomats were transferred to the Police Regional Office-7 from Cebu City Intelligence Branch past noon today.

Li Qing Liang and his wife Gou Jing wore the same clothes that they used in last Wednesday noon’s shooting at the Lighthouse Restaurant.

The couple were escorted by a Special Weapons and Tactics Team (SWAT).

Gou Jing, wearing the same clothes she was wearing last Wednesday when the shooting took place, was escorted to a waiting van outside of CIB.

Jing was escorted out first by a female escort with her head covered with a jacket.

She was taken to a Cebu City government issued L300 van.

Liang followed with a male escort and rode in a patrol vehicle.

Cebu City Mayor Michael Rama said he is directing the city police to follow due process in dealing with the suspects.

He explained that since the crime happened in Cebu City, the couple are subject under local laws.

Rama said he wants police to blotter the incident, arrest the suspects, file cases, and let the suspects present their documents to claim they have immunity.

The mayor said he talked with Cebu Gov. Hilario Davide III and provincial administrator Mark Tolentino regarding his stand and they agreed.

Rama said that as mayor he has operational supervision and control over the city’s police and they should follow his orders.

For his part, Vice Mayor Edgardo Labella, who heads City Hall’s Police Coordinating and Advisory Council (PCAC), also said the suspects should be detained and be subjected to inquest proceedings since they were caught “in flagrante.”