Teen dragged out of home, shot dead

MANILA, Philippines - Seven men, masked and heavily built, took a 16-year-old boy from his home in Barangay Payatas, Quezon City at past midnight yesterday and shot him repeatedly in front of his family.

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She said that at around 12:25 a.m., Matela was sleeping in the bedroom beside his mother and younger siblings when two men forcibly entered their house while the other masked men stood watch outside.

Matela had just come home after drinking at a party with his friends when the assailants entered their house, Manaligod said.

The boy’s mother, Luzviminda, tried to protect her son but the men beat her up.

“They tried to drag James but his mama refused to let go. To get the boy, they slapped and punched her,” Manaligod said in Filipino.

The assailants also beat up other members of Matela’s family and fired a shot when Luzviminda refused to let go of her son.

When the assailants got hold of Matela and dragged him outside, more than 10 shots rang out in the dark. The men had smashed nearby lightbulbs before the shooting, Manaligod said.

Matela died at the scene while the assailants fled immediately after the attack.

Seven fired cartridge cases and several deformed bullets were recovered at the crime scene.

Investigators said they are looking into a fraternity or gang war as a motive for the murder but Matela’s family is not interested in having his death investigated.

There are too many children in the house who may be targeted, Manaligod told reporters just as her nephew’s body was brought back home in a white L300 van by workers from Rizalde Funeral Homes.   

“Sinong hindi matatakot sa nangyari sa amin kagabi? Walang kalaban-laban (Who would not be frightened of what happened last night? We were helpless),” she said.