A deadly shooting unfolded on a sidewalk in Cebu City, resulting in one fatality and another victim in critical condition, after a security guard with a violent past opened fire on two men he believed were mocking him. The incident occurred at approximately 10:15 AM on Friday, March 27, 2026, along V. Rama Avenue in Sitio San Antonio, Barangay Calamba.
Fatal Encounter on V. Rama Avenue
According to police reports, the victims, identified as Vicente Gemuta, 42, and Renato Belanizo, alias Atoy, 52, were seated by the roadside when they were approached and shot by the suspect. Gemuta sustained three gunshot wounds to his body and was declared dead on arrival at the Cebu City Medical Center. Belanizo remains in critical condition at a local hospital.
Suspect with a Criminal History
The alleged shooter, Joel Rentuma, 47, a security guard employed by A Plus Towing Services under the Primero Eagles Security Agency, was apprehended at the scene by responding officers from the Sawang Calero Police Station. Rentuma, a resident of Sitio Arca, Barangay Punta Princesa, has a prior criminal record, having been imprisoned for homicide in 2011 and serving a sentence of ten years and three months before his release in 2021.
Investigations revealed a pre-existing grudge between Rentuma and the victims, stemming from alleged bullying incidents. However, during questioning by Police Staff Sergeant Ryan Panugaling, Rentuma claimed he was not directly confronted by the victims but became suspicious when he heard them laughing while looking in his direction.
Police Express Concerns Over Hiring Practices
"The reason is very shallow—just being looked at and hearing sudden laughter, along with stories he might have heard as a guard. It's a very trivial reason," stated Panugaling, highlighting the flimsy motive behind the attack. Authorities have expressed astonishment that Rentuma was hired as a security guard despite his homicide conviction, raising serious questions about screening processes in the security industry.
The case underscores ongoing issues of violence and accountability, with police continuing their investigation into the circumstances leading to the tragic shooting.
