3 men slain in Quezon City shootings

MANILA, Philippines - At least three men were killed in separate shootings in Quezon City yesterday.

The fatalities, Danilo Melchor, 53; Ricky Casea, 25, and Roel Canibel, 42, were slain minutes apart, according to police.

Reports said that Melchor was in front of a burger store along Kagawad Gitna Road in Barangay Batasan Hills when the unidentified assailants opened fire at around 12:30 a.m.

A woman, who witnessed the shooting, told police that she took cover when she heard gunshots and saw the victim sprawled on the ground.

Police said they recovered eight .45-caliber casings and bullet fragments at the scene.

Casea was shot dead in front of a bakery along Republic Avenue street in Barangay Holy Spirit at around 12:25 a.m.

Casea died on the spot from three gunshots to the head, probers said.

After a few minutes, Canibel was gunned down by at least six assailants who broke into his house also in Barangay Holy Spirit.

Canibel died at the scene from a gunshot to the forehead.

The assailants fled on three motorcycles, witnesses said.

The cases were turned over to the Criminal Investigation and Detection Unit of the Quezon City police.