8 dead in MM shootings

MANILA, Philippines - At least eight persons have been killed in shootings in various parts of Metro Manila since Sunday.

In Quezon City, three assailants killed Richard Maniquez, 36, and Ronaldo Namor, 25, at a birthday party along Laura street in Barangay Old Balara Sunday night.

A witness told reporters that the two victims were watching a movie at the dimly lit living room when two of the three assailants barged into the house.

She said she was putting her two children to sleep after celebrating her 23rd birthday.

The assailants, wearing a bullcap and jackets with guns visibly tucked into their clothes, were searching for a certain “Totoy Tular” and asked for the victims’ names.

The witness said the assailants then ordered the victims to empty their pockets but they did not find anything.

When she asked the assailants what they were doing, one of them allegedly said, “Nagchecheck lang kami (We’re just checking).”

They then heard a third assailant, who was waiting outside the house, utter “Hindi yan (That’s not him).”

However, instead of leaving, the gunman told the witness, “Wala kayong nakita (You saw nothing).” He then shot Maniquez and Namor.

Around 20 minutes later, mechanic Frederick Shoemaker, 47, was gunned down along Saint John street after he finished repairing a friend’s motorcycle in nearby Barangay Holy Spirit at around midnight.

A witness told police he was at his house when he heard a lone gunshot from outside.

Shoemaker ran into the house but was followed by two assailants, who shot him dead before fleeing.

In Barangay Sauyo, Nixon Sagun, 19, was shot dead in a taxi just as he and his friends were about to alight from the vehicle along Sauyo Road at around 11 p.m.

Probers said Sagun was attacked by six assailants on three motorcycles.

The victim and two of his female companions boarded the taxi at NIA Napocor Subdivision, according to police.

At around 1:45 p.m. Sunday, Ricky Leang, 41, was shot dead in the Toyota Innova (DAO-999) he parked along Palawan street in Barangay Sto. Cristo. Two children were with him in the car. 

Surveillance footage showed that moments before a lone assailant – wearing shades, a baseball cap, a red shirt and short pants – approached the vehicle and shot Leang, who was in the driver’s seat, the children had transferred to the back seat.

The assailant was seen taking something from the victim before walking away and taking a tricycle.

In Caloocan City, an unidentified man was gunned down while another was found dead yesterday.

The first victim – described to be around 40 and at least 5’3” tall – was killed by unidentified assailants in front of a house at the corner of Kapak Alley and Sabalo street in Barangay 12 at around 1 a.m., said Senior Superintendent Chito Bersaluna.

Meanwhile, the body of a man later identified as Jomar Espalmado was found along Pio Valenzuela street in Barangay 78 shortly before 4 a.m.

Espalmado, 28, was a welder and lived on Reparo street, a few blocks from where he was killed.

In Pateros, drug suspect Edwin Pascual, 59, was sleeping in his home in Barangay Aguho when unidentified assailants, wearing masks and helmets, barged in and dragged him out into the street at around 2:40 a.m. 

They shot him repeatedly then sped away on several motorcycles.

Superintendent Jenny Tecson said Pascual was on Pateros’ drug watchlist. – Romina Cabrera, Rey Galupo, Emmanuel Tupas