Woman slain, son hurt in Tondo ambush

MANILA, Philippines — A 49-year-old woman was killed while her teenage son was wounded in an ambush in Tondo, Manila before dawn yesterday.

Merly Rabanera died at the scene while her son Christian, 19, is under observation at the Jose Reyes Memorial Medical Center.

Staff Sgt. Lester Evangelista, Manila Police District homicide investigator, said the victims were riding a tricycle on the way to the market when a motorcycle-riding assailant shot at them repeatedly at the corner of Bulacan street and Rizal Avenue at around 2 a.m.

Christian jumped from the tricycle but was hit in the back.

According to other reports, Christian sustained gunshot wounds when he embraced his mother and begged the assailant to spare their lives.

Evangelista said Rabanera was the president of the Avenida Compound Neighborhood Association and they are looking into the possibility that the attack is related to her position in the organization.