Leyster Abella
  • Sex: Male
  • Age: 26
Incident Details
  • Killed by unknown assailants in public
  • Date of Incident: April 10, 2018
  • Location of Incident: Cebu City, Cebu
Source(s)

Cebu City (CNN Philippines, October 6) — Christopher “Boyet” Tangag, 23, finished college with the help of stipend from the government. Now, his family needs nothing more than justice for him.

Tangag was among the five people brutally killed in a suspected ambush in upland Barangay Malubog at dawn on October 4. Two survivors accused the police of being behind the killing, a claim the Central Visayas police belied.

The supposed ambush happened as police conducted a “One Time Big Time” anti-drug operation in Cebu City, which left nine people dead.

READ: 9 killed, 60 arrested in Cebu City police operations

“I seek justice, if ever there really is such thing as justice. He never was involved in illegal drugs. You can ask anyone here if you want,” said Tangag’s father who refused to be named for security reasons.

He described his son as a hardworking man. Tangag, a scholar of the Cebu City government graduated at the Asian College of Technology. He later worked in a business process outsourcing firm, and even sidelined as a habal-habal (motorcycle) driver to better provide for his family.

He picked up a passenger in barangay Guadalupe at night on October 3 when a group of armed men intercepted and blindfolded them, and forced them to board a van going to Malubog. That’s where Tangag was shot dead along with four other men: Carl Cabahug, 20; Leyster Abella, 26; Rolando Tayor, 29; and a certain Dirovan Sarijorjo.

Tangag is survived by his wife and a nine-month-old child. His father said he wanted to avail of a housing loan to provide better living conditions for his family, as they have been renting a small room in Barangay Basak San Nicolas.

Tangag’s father said he prays that his son could rest in peace and promises to continue praying until justice is served.

This is the latest in the spate of killings in Cebu City, mostly of drug suspects and drug enforcement agents.