Junkies kill 2 youths in Quezon City

Police are now hunting a group of suspected drug addicts who allegedly stabbed and shot dead two teenagers in Barangay Batasan Hills, Quezon City early yesterday morning.

Victims Luisito Sta. Maria, 16, and Geno Pineda, 14, both residents of 72 Ilang-Ilang Street, Barangay Batasan Hills, sustained stab and bullet wounds and were pronounced dead on arrival at the East Avenue Medical Center.

Their killers were armed with bladed weapons and a homemade shotgun, the police said.

Investigations showed that the incident occurred at about 1:30 a.m. in front of the victims’ house on Ilang-Ilang Street.

Reports said Sta. Maria was walking home after a night out with some friends when two of the attackers suddenly blocked his path and stabbed him repeatedly in different parts of the body.

Despite being seriously wounded, Sta. Maria was able to run to a dark alley, but he collapsed on the pavement. Pineda, who was nearby, rushed to help his friend, but the assailants reappeared and one of them pulled out a shotgun.

Without warning, the gunman shot Pineda, hitting him in the head. They were taken to the hospital by neighbors where they died at about 1:54 a.m.

Investigators said that the suspects might have had an old grudge against Sta. Maria, and that Pineda was a mere "victim of circumstances."

Meanwhile, a Japanese tourist and his Filipina companion were arrested by elements of the Western Police District City Hall detachment for alleged illegal drugs possession in Malate the other night.

Police identified those arrested as Keiji Nakada, 44, and Elisa dela Cruz. The two were arrested after a car chase that began in Malate and ended in Legarda street in Sampaloc.

According to police, the suspects were aboard Nakada’s Toyota Rav-4 van with plate number WER-141 when they were accosted by elements of the WPD-Special Operations Group for driving "suspiciously" along Malate. When the officers tried to approach the van, it sped off prompting the policemen to give chase. Police caught-up with the van along Legarda Street. – Matthew Estabillo and Mike Frialde