A 65-year-old fire victim from the contested property in sitio Avocado, barangay Lahug was shot and killed at about 11:30 p.m. Thursday.
Virgilio Gabiana, member of the board of directors of the Lahug Cebu Homeowners Association (LACHOA), sustained a fatal shot in the back.
He was pronounced dead on arrival at the Perpetual Succour Hospital.
Homicide investigator SPO3 Jerry Genelaso said witnesses related that Gabiana was on his way home from a LACHOA meeting in the fire site when two men followed him.
Upon reaching sitio San Roque, which is across the fire site, one of the men shot him.
Another man who is wearing a hooded jacket acted as lookout and stood near the bamboo furniture being displayed by the roadside.
Gabiana’s wife, Isadora, said her husband did not survive because he was already old.
Gabiana, known as Tatay Billy in the neighborhood, was among those very vocal against attempts by the University of the Philippines (UP) Cebu to evict the fire victims and gain possession of the 4,000-square-meter property.
In an interview with Cebu Daily News last January 6, Gabiana said he will never move out of the fire site.
“Mamatay na lang mi, diri ra gyud mi (We will die here),” he had said.
According to LACHOA president Elesio “Jun” Gulfan Jr., the families of sitio Avocado are mourning the loss of Gabiana.
Gulfan said they have decided to pursue their planned protest, which will be held along with the Alliance of National Urban Poor Assembly, Inc. (ANUPA).
“We want to find out why Tatay Billy was killed. He was well-loved here,” said Gulfan in Cebuano.