A resort in Brgy. Agus, Lapu-Lapu Metropolis, Cebu was uncovered to be a Philippine Offshore Gaming Operator (Pogo) hub throughout a raid on August 31, 2024. | CDN Picture/ Emmariel Ares
CEBU CITY, Philippines — Armed males ransacking pawnshops in the midst of the busy metropolis in broad daylight, the invention of two Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators (Pogo) hubs, and the “gang rape” of a minor – these had been among the many largest crime tales in Cebu that acquired the general public speaking in 2024.
Every month, native authorities handled every kind of legal actions from the mundane to probably the most extreme.
On this version of Cebu Every day Information Digital’s year-ender particular, the staff has compiled a number of the most-read crime tales that took place all year long:
College students arrested for “soiled finger selfie”
Two college students are arrested after they made a selfie the place they flashed a unclean finger with the police as a background in Barangay San Roque, Cebu Metropolis on January 21, 2024. | Paul Lauro
Two male college students landed in jail for allegedly flashing the finger whereas doing a selfie whereas utilizing resting policemen within the background throughout the Sinulog competition celebrations on January 21.
Whereas each college students denied desiring to insult the officers, their motion was deemed inappropriate and so they had been charged with unjust vexation.
The case was dismissed by the court docket on January 26 and the scholars apologized to the officers in court docket. In the long run, the matter was settled amicably.
Nonetheless, it drove police to warn others of the results of displaying distressing habits to others.
READ: 2 school college students jailed for selfie with soiled finger throughout Sinulog
Hit-and-run of Jeslar Larumbe
A screenshot of the surveillance footage from a resort in entrance of Redemptorist Church captured the moments earlier than Jesral Uriel Larumbe was hit by the grey SUV dashing beside his bike on Feb. 4, 2024. | Contributed
A 23-year-old promising basketball participant misplaced his life in a hit-and-run incident on February 9, that was pushed by highway rage.
Jeslar Uriel Larumbe by chance hit an SUV after working a purple mild at an intersection. He was then chased by the indignant suspect, Aaron Karl Tan, who bumped the participant’s bike and triggered him to fall and hit his head.
After months of investigation, native policemen gathered items of proof that pointed to Tan, a businessman, because the suspect.
Regardless of his efforts to place the blame on another person, Tan was discovered to be the suspect. He was charged for the homicide of Larumbe on Could 6.
READ: Highway rage led to hit-and-run of native basketball participant – Police
‘Disrespectful’ son killed by his father
A 63-year-old man lands in jail after he shot his son and killed his in Brgy. Lahug, Cebu Metropolis on Monday night, March 25, 2024. | Screenshot from video courtesy of dyHP through Paul Lauro
63-year-old Eugenio Caballes grew to become his personal son’s assassin.
A struggle ensued between the patriarch and his son, Kenn, on March 25 which turned violent shortly when the latter allegedly struck his father with a picket stick.
The daddy, in a match of anger for his son’s disrespectful perspective in the direction of him and the mom, shot him within the head. A remorseful Caballes ended up in jail whereas his spouse was left to mourn for his or her son’s loss of life.
READ: Father shoots son useless for disrespecting mother in Cebu Metropolis
Rapper Range999 arrested for homicide
Singer-rapper Andrew Salera, who goes by the stage title “Range999,” was arrested for taking pictures an American nationwide who allegedly disrespected his buddies at a bar on March 17.
Salera, onboard an SUV, slowed down by the bar’s entrance and shot Michael George Richey. The encounter was captured in a CCTV footage.
After 4 hours, Salera was taken into custody. Richey died two days later and the rapper was charged with homicide.
READ: Rapper arrested, foreigner wounded in Cebu Metropolis resort taking pictures
Lady shot useless whereas doing homework in Talisay
This was the place the 14-year-old lady was shot final April 26 as she was answering her college modules. | CDN Digital file picture
A 14-year-old pupil from Brgy. Cansojong in Talisay Metropolis was answering her college modules inside her room when she was shot on April 26.
The lady died and the investigation later revealed that it was an unintentional firing of a gun attributable to the sufferer’s older brother, who was beforehand concerned with unlawful medication.
A gun positioned on the suspect’s pockets allegedly fell and went off by chance hitting the lady. The brother was charged with murder.
READ: 14-year-old lady shot useless whereas answering college module in Talisay, Cebu
Minors killed in Liloan ‘gang brawl’
A 16-year-old lady was killed whereas two different minors sustained accidents in a taking pictures in Barangay Yati, Liloan city, northern Cebu on Could 9.
The victims had been hanging out at a comfort retailer when round six to seven assailants, one armed with a gun, drove by and shot them.
Hints of a gang struggle and love triangle got here up throughout the investigation because the attainable motive behind the taking pictures. 5 suspects had been arrested not lengthy after.
READ: 16-year-old lady killed, 2 different minors injured in Liloan taking pictures
Building employee fell to loss of life
The Nationwide Bureau of Investigation in Central Visayas (NBI-7) headquarters in Cebu Metropolis. | CDN Picture/ Emmariel Ares
A household of farmers from Dalaguete city in Cebu filed a criticism towards two municipal engineers and the native authorities unit over the unintentional loss of life of their liked one whereas engaged on a development venture on June 5.
The sufferer, Jerson Enseñales, 21, died after falling off of a sports activities complicated underneath development. His household then raised concern on the truth that he was pulled out of his job on the native authorities to work for a non-public contractor and that he was not given security gear.
NBI-7 operatives filed expenses towards the Dalaguete city mayor and eight different people.
READ: Household of welder killed in accident information criticism vs engineers, native govt. of Dalaguete
Fireplace inspector nabbed for soliciting cash
A fireplace inspector from the Cebu Metropolis Fireplace Station was arrested by NBI-7 brokers for allegedly demanding P400,000 from an applicant with the promise that she is assured to cross the recruitment course of. | NBI-7 Picture
A fireplace inspector from the Cebu Metropolis Fireplace Station (CCFS) landed in jail on June 27, after he was caught allegedly soliciting cash from an applicant in change for assured acceptance to the company.
The accused was Fireplace lnspector Roy Mat Castro, chief of the CCFS Fireplace Security Enforcement Part (FSES).
He was charged with grave misconduct, direct bribery, and in violation of “Anti-graft and Corrupt Practices Act.”
READ: Cebu Metropolis fireplace inspector nabbed for soliciting cash from applicant
Mall saleslady killed at residence
Authorities right here have recognized the saleslady who was discovered lifeless and bare inside her rented home in Barangay Bulacao, Cebu Metropolis, on Friday afternoon, August 2. | Paul Lauro
A 27-year-old girl, who works as a saleslady, was discovered useless inside inside her rented home in Sitio Laguna, Barangay Bulacao, Cebu Metropolis, on August 2.
The physique of the useless Charina Relativo was found by her companion’s buddies who got here to verify on her. One in every of these people, Darren Cui, was later recognized because the suspect.
Cui confessed to dragging Relativo, who was taking a shower out of the lavatory, to attempt to have intercourse along with her. He additionally admitted to strangling the younger girl till she stopped respiratory after which he began a fireplace to hide his crime.
READ: TIMELINE: The ugly killing of Cebu saleslady Charina Relativo
Two pawnshops robbed in broad daylight
Armed males robbed two pawnshops in downtown Cebu Metropolis at previous 11:00 a.m. on Thursday, August 8. | Screenshot from contributed video through Paul Lauro
Two neighboring pawnshops alongside Calderon Road in downtown Cebu Metropolis had been robbed by six armed males on August 8.
Three males, carrying helmets, ransacked the jewellery show whereas one other man pushed the purchasers to crouch on the ground. After just a few seconds, the robbers fled and police had been referred to as on the scene.
With the general public in a panic over the crime perpetrated in broad daylight, then performing Cebu Metropolis Mayor Raymond Alvin Garcia gave police a deadline of 48 hours and supplied a P200,000 reward for any info that may result in the arrest of the robbers.
Finally, police arrested and filed expenses towards the people accountable for the theft.
READ: 2 pawnshops in downtown Cebu Metropolis robbed in broad daylight
Lapu-Lapu resort uncovered as Pogo hub
At the very least 100 international nationals had been rescued throughout a raid on Saturday, August 31, at resort in Brgy. Agus, Lapu-Lapu Metropolis, Cebu that was recognized as a Pogo hub. | CDN Picture/ Emmariel Ares
An operation to rescue a gaggle of Indonesians who had been believed to be illegally detained at a resort in Brgy. Agus, Lapu-Lapu Metropolis, Cebu on August 31, led to the invention of a Philippine Offshore Gaming Operator (Pogo) hub.
Brokers raided the Vacationer Backyard Lodge and located 162 nationals from Indonesia, China, Malaysia, Taiwan, and Burma, who seemed to be working a rip-off farm.
A complete of 16 international nationals, accused of working the unlawful enterprise, had been charged with certified trafficking in individual. The foreigners had been then transported to Manila.
READ: Cebu resort raid uncovers first unlawful Pogo hub in Visayas; 162 foreigners rescued
Lady discovered useless in lodging home
A Grade 12 pupil was seen in a CCTV footage checking in to a lodging home in Toledo Metropolis on September 19.
On the following day, staff discovered the 18-year-old lady useless whereas her companion was nowhere to be seen. Primarily based on the marks on her neck, the victims appeared to have been choked to loss of life.
The suspect was later recognized as Lorben Larot, 43.
READ: Police identifies suspect in loss of life of lady in Toledo Metropolis lodging home
Scholar assaulted by two cops
Lapu-Lapu Metropolis Mayor Junard Chan speaks with the mauling sufferer. | Picture from the FB web page of Junard “Ahong” Chan
Two law enforcement officials had been relieved from responsibility for allegedly assaulting a criminology pupil, whom they thought of a suspect in a housebreaking case on October 4.
The sufferer initially went to the station to report a housebreaking whereby the housebreaking suspect allegedly additionally mauled him.
However, he was as an alternative allegedly assaulted by the 2 law enforcement officials, who struck his palms with an arnis stick and slapped his face a number of instances.
READ: LCPO relieves 2 cops linked to assault on Criminology pupil
Mandaue hit-and-run
Emergency responders are inclined to the victims of a hit-and-run incident in Barangay Basak, Mandaue Metropolis within the early morning of Sunday, October 6. | MCPO
A habal-habal driver and his passenger died in a success and run incident in M.C. Briones St., Barangay Jagobiao in Mandaue Metropolis on October 6.
The motive force was recognized as Richard Quiaot, 43, whereas the passenger was Nina Logarta, 54.
On their method residence, the bike that the victims had been driving on collided with a counterflowing white sports activities utility automobile (SUV). The motive force of the erring automobile left the victims behind and fled the realm.
READ: Mandaue hit-and-run: SUV truck slams into bike, 2 useless
Moalboal Pogo hub uncovered
Contributed Picture
Policemen uncovered one other Pogo hub throughout a raid of a resort in Brgy. Saavedra, Moalboal, a well-liked diving vacation spot in southwestern Cebu, on October 9.
Operatives discovered a complete of 38 undocumented Chinese language nationals who had been reportedly caught partaking in POGO actions.
The operation stemmed from a tip by a involved citizen, alleging that vacationers who had been staying in a resort named Comfortable Bear Villa in Brgy. Saavedra out of the blue needed to place up a high-speed web there.
READ: One other POGO in Cebu? 38 undocumented Chinese language nationals arrested in Moalboal
Girl’s corpse defiled in Carcar Metropolis
Picture exhibits the police reply to the Carcar Metropolis cemetery, the place casket with the corpse of the girl inside was discovered outdoors her tomb. | Picture by DySS Tremendous Radyo
A 22-year-old girl’s corpse was allegedly defiled inside her casket on the Ocaña Roman Catholic Cemetery in Barangay Ocaña, Carcar Metropolis on October 20.
The girl had been laid to relaxation the earlier Saturday, October 19.
When the casket was opened, the corpse was now not carrying underwear, and her gown was pulled up above her head. This led people to imagine that the physique had been sexually assaulted.
READ: In Carcar Metropolis, Cebu, a 22-year-old’s corpse was discovered defiled
Scholar causes college bomb scare
A 19-year-old girl, who was accountable for posting on-line final Monday, October 21, a bomb menace on the Cebu Technological College (CTU) predominant campus, has been arrested. | NBI-7 Picture
A primary yr pupil of the Cebu Technological College (CTU) was recognized because the perpetrator behind a bomb menace that disrupted courses at her personal college in the midst of examination season on October 21.
The 19-year-old suspect recognized as alias “Thea” was arrested by regulation enforcers at her residence a day after the incident. The suspect allegedly took her exams, went residence, and made a publish in regards to the bomb menace utilizing an account named “John Steve.”
Thea advised authorities that it was not her intention to disrupt courses with the threatening publish.
READ: Bomb scare in Cebu Metropolis college: Scholar, 19, tagged, nabbed
Spiderman, Son Goku at Transcentral Freeway
The Freeway Patrol Group in Central Visayas (HPG-7) summons the content material creators who dressed up as Spiderman and Son Goku and carried out stunts on a tricycle alongside the Cebu Transcentral Freeway on Sunday, October 27. | CDN Picture/ Emmariel Ares
Two males, who dressed up as standard characters Spiderman and Son Goku, had been referred to as out for the stunt they pulled whereas creating social media content material alongside the Cebu Transcentral Freeway on October 27.
The people concerned had been recognized as content material creators Jason Ik, 27 and Boy Banat, 29.
Each males have publicly apologized for his or her harmful actions after being referred to as to the headquarters of the Freeway Patrol Group 7.
READ: ‘Spiderman,’ ‘Son Goku’ apologize for Transcentral Freeway stunt
Priest nabbed for hit-and-run
Right here is a photograph of the automobile pushed by a priest from Bantayan, Cebu after he allegedly rammed into two bikes in Santa Fe and fled on Thursday night, November 7. | Contributed picture
A priest landed in jail after he allegedly triggered a visitors accident in Santa Fe city in northern Cebu and sped away as an alternative of serving to the victims on November 7.
Three people had been injured and rushed to the hospital because of the hit-and-run incident.
The suspect, 45-year-old Rhanmar Ragmac Singuran, was arrested in Bantayan. He claimed that he didn’t cease his automobile as a result of he didn’t understand that he had hit somebody.
READ: Priest arrested after alleged hit-and-run hurts 3 in Santa Fe, Cebu
The killing of Neca Denise Lagria
The physique of a useless girl is discovered close to the seawall on the South Highway Properties at previous 6 a.m. on Tuesday, November 19. | Paul Lauro
The brutal loss of life of Neca Denise Lagria, who was discovered useless alongside the South Highway Properties seawall on November 19, triggered a stir amongst members of the general public.
The 22-year-old girl was commuting to work when she was attacked by Godofredo Brufal, the motive force of the jeepney that she was driving.
After his arrest, Brufal narrated how he strangled Lagria to loss of life after she bit half of his tounge off when he kissed her. He then threw her physique on the seawall the place she was discovered two hours later.
READ: ‘Case solved’: Neca Denise Lagria strangled to loss of life after preventing attacker
“Gang rape” of 15-year-old lady
Native authorities will probably be submitting expenses of statutory rape towards 4 males tagged because the suspects behind the latest rape of a 15-year-old lady in Oslob city, southern Cebu. | Contributed photographs
A 15-year-old lady from Oslob city, southern Cebu was discovered useless inside their home just a few days after reporting being raped by a gaggle of males throughout their fiesta celebration.
The sufferer advised police that she was approached by a gaggle of males, compelled her to drink alcohol, after which was taken someplace unfamiliar the place she was raped.
A day after she reported the rape to police, she was discovered useless inside their home. Police recognized 4 suspects of the crime and arrested them within the city of Dalaguete on December 21.
READ: Oslob gang-rape: 4 suspects to face statutory rape expenses
Highway accidents
Except for legal circumstances, there have been additionally quite a few highway accidents that took the lifetime of a number of victims, each younger and outdated, in 2024.
Most of those tragedies had been attributable to reckless driving and will have been prevented by being a accountable motorist.
Earlier than the yr involves a detailed, here’s a look again at a number of the most notable highway accidents in Cebu in 2024:
Nursing pupil killed in Balamban
An accident alongside the freeway in Barangay Gaas, Balamban, Cebu on Thursday, March 21, result in the loss of life of a nursing pupil whereas 10 others had been injured. | Screenshot from contributed video through Paul Lauro
A nursing pupil died after the game utility automobile she was driving with 10 of her classmates onboard, flipped over whereas she tried to evade one other automobile in Barangay Gaas, Balamban city in western Cebu on March 21.
The motive force of the sport-utility automobile (SUV) was recognized as Angelu Mae Omayao Pateres.
Pateres reportedly misplaced management of the automobile inflicting it to show the other way up in the midst of the highway. She was declared useless on arrival on the hospital whereas her classmates sustained accidents.
READ: Nursing pupil killed after SUV flips over in Balamban highway accident
Household’s bike falls of cliff
A girl died whereas her husband and baby survived after the household had been thrown off a motorbike because it fell of a cliff in Talisay Metropolis, Cebu. | CT-TODA Picture through Paul Lauro
A household’s supposed go to to a ‘hilot’ led to a tragedy after their bike with an improvised sidecar, domestically referred to as “tangkal-tangkal,” fell of a cliff in Sitio Kambawog, Brgy. Kampo 4 in Talisay Metropolis on June 21.
The couple and their one-year-old son had been discovered under the cliff. The mom, recognized as Marilyn Sabal, was already useless when discovered whereas her husband, Jerome, and their son had been rushed to the hospital for therapy.
READ: Mom killed in Talisay accident, father and son survive
College students killed in Pinamungajan accident
A vehicular accident in Sitio Bulubgan, Brgy. Tajao in Pinamungajan, Cebu on Saturday, October 12, resulted within the loss of life of an aeronautics pupil and different different individual. | Paul Lauro
A gaggle of 4 male school college students met an accident throughout a highway journey to Aloguinsan, Cebu on October 12.
The accident resulted within the loss of life of the aeronautics pupil, 20-year-old Jan Raydel Booc, and Stephen Sabornino, 18. The remainder of the group sustained accidents and had been rushed to the hospital.
Authorities stated that the motive force encroached on the northbound lane of the nationwide freeway in Pinamungajan, Cebu and collided with an approaching prime mover.
The truck driver, Diomar Bugna, surrendered to police.
READ: Pinamungajan, Cebu accident: Aeronautics pupil, good friend killed
Boy killed on his option to college
The accident web site the place a boy died after getting hit by a motorbike. | Picture courtesy of the Lapu-Lapu Metropolis Police Workplace
A Grade 3 pupil died shortly after he was hit by a passing bike as he was crossing the Tiangue Highway to get to his college in Brgy. Babag, Lapu-Lapu Metropolis on November 12.
John (not his actual title) was on his option to college when he acquired hit by the passing bike. He landed onerous on the bottom and died immediately.
In an try to dodge the boy, the erring driver, 21, swerved to the other lane and hit two different bikes, injuring two different people.
READ: Boy on his option to college in Lapu-Lapu killed in highway accident
Christmas Day accident
A pair misplaced their six-year-old daughter, who died of her accidents, when an SUV hit the bike they rode in Naga Metropolis on Christmas Day, Dec. 25. Picture exhibits the SUV which rammed a portion of a home after hitting the bike in Naga Metropolis, southern Cebu. | Screengrab from contributed video through Paul Lauro
A pair misplaced their 6-year-old daughter in a highway accident attributable to a driver who fell asleep on the wheel on the early hours of Christmas Day, December 25.
The household’s patriarch, Deidre Delute, 27, died just a few days later.
Delute was driving a motorbike along with his spouse and daughter as passengers when thet had been hit by an SUV pushed by 21-year-old Sensible Knight Sejalbo Dela Torre.
Dela Torre confessed that he fell asleep behind the wheel.
The sufferer’s family have rejected Dela Torre’s apology and police filed expenses towards him on December 27.
READ: Christmas Day accident: Lady useless after SUV hits bike in Naga
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