CEBU CITY, Philippines — In a chilling incident that has sparked outcry, a man who had been released from jail just hours earlier was executed in a brazen roadside attack early Friday morning, January 23, 2026.
The victim, identified as 34-year-old Jason Yuson, was eating at a roadside stall in Sitio Huyong-huyong, Barangay Mambaling, around 2 a.m. when an unidentified gunman approached from behind. The assailant fired two shots into Yuson’s waist before fleeing the scene under the cover of darkness. Yuson was rushed to the hospital but was declared dead on arrival.
The killing is being investigated by local police, who confirmed that Yuson had been released from Cebu City Jail earlier that same day. Initial reports suggest that he had served time for drug-related charges, a detail that has led investigators to consider multiple motives, including possible vigilante justice or a targeted killing related to gang rivalries or past criminal associations.
“The timing of the killing—just hours after his release—strongly suggests this was a premeditated act, not a random crime of opportunity,” stated Police Major Ramon Alvarez, head of the Mambaling Police Station. “We are looking into all possibilities, including whether this was a revenge killing or an attempt to silence him. We are reviewing CCTV footage from the area and appealing to witnesses to come forward.”
The brazen nature of the attack in a public area has raised serious concerns about both vigilante-style violence and the safety of individuals re-entering society after incarceration.
“Justice is not served by extrajudicial killing in the streets,” said Father Carlo Reyes, a local parish priest and advocate for prisoner rehabilitation. “This man had served his sentence. He was supposed to have a chance to rebuild his life. This act does not bring peace; it only perpetuates a cycle of violence and fear in our community.”
Human rights groups in Cebu have long raised alarms about violence targeting former inmates, arguing that a lack of support systems and protective measures leaves them vulnerable. This case has intensified calls for improved reintegration programs and witness protection for those leaving the penal system.
“It highlights a failure on multiple fronts,” noted Atty. Lena Martinez of the Cebu Human Rights Network. “If we do not address the root causes of crime and provide a genuine path to rehabilitation, we are condemning people to a life where prison or the grave are the only outcomes. The community must ask itself difficult questions about justice and redemption.”
As police pursue the gunman, Yuson’s family is left to mourn a life that ended just as it was meant to begin again. No arrests have been made, and the investigation remains active.