Four killed in a shooting rampage in Gapan, Nueva Ecija

Sayang ang mga pangarap ni Kim Jasper na maagang binawi dahil sa karahasan

Four persons including a 17-year old student were killed in a shooting rampage that happened inside a restaurant in Gapan, Nueva Ecija yesterday. Police have immediately arrested a Barangay Captain who was identified by the victims as one of those perpetrators.

The suspects reportedly barged inside a crowded restaurant looking for their target Emerson Pascual, a member of Volunteer Against Crime and Corruption (VACC).

The police gave no details as to how the bloody incident transpired but it would appear that undetermined number of suspects open fire at Pascual hitting other innocent civilians inside the restaurant.


Among those who were killed by stray bullets was Kim Jasper Juvinal, a 17-year old Marine Engineering student with his classmate Rodney Garcia, 16-year old, who is still under critical condition in a hospital due to five gunshot wounds in various parts of the body.

The two students were about to go to school when hit by stray bullets.

Nueva Ecija Police Provincia Director PS/Supt. Crizaldo Nieves said they have already filed four murder charges and five counts of frustrated murder against the barangay Captain he did not yet identify at prosecutor’s office in the town of Gapan.

Other fatalities were identified as Consuelo Mance, 80-year old; PO2 Jefferson Lim; and Rufino Vendevil, the driver of Pascual.

Nieves said investigators are looking at any link whether the shooting has something to do with Pascual’s membership in VACC where he is a Board of Trustees member.

Pascual’s membership with VACC started when two of his brothers were shot dead inside their cockpit arena way back in 2007.

Meanwhile parents Juvinal is grieving for the loss of their son whom they said “a very gentle kid” whose dream is to have a bright future in order to help his family. The young Juvinal’s parents are both overseas workers for two years in Dubai and have just returned recently.

“Napakabait na bata yan puro simbahan lang yan, napakatalino pa naman niya at ang pangarap niya payamanin kami”, Miguel Juvinal recalled.

The Father of another teenager Manuel Garcia is wondering why the suspects should resort to a shooting rampage in a public place where there are possible innocent victims.

“Kung magbabarilan sila bakit hindi na lang sila pumunta sa bundok hidi yong kung sino-sino pa ang madamay, “ Garcia said whose eldest son Rodney was still fighting for his life at the hospital.

Nieves said they are still pursuing the other armed perpetrators who are allegedly with the Barangay Captian when the shooting incident happened. A get-away vehicle has already been recovered and the police crime lab is already coordinating with witnesses for the cartographic sketch of the other suspects who are now subject of manhunt.

Nieves vowed he will not stop until justice is achieved for the victims.