Judge, son hurt in Caloocan holdup

A Nueva Ecija Regional Trial Court (RTC) judge and his teenaged son, who had a flat tire while cruising southbound on the North Luzon Expressway (NLEX) at midnight yesterday, were wounded after fighting off two unidentified knife-wielding men who succeeded in robbing them near the toll exit.

Caloocan City police chief Superintendent Benjardi Mantele identified the victims as Judge Silverio Castillo, 53, of the Dagupan City RTC Branch 43 and his son Joseph Jesus, 15, third year high school student, both residing at 42 C-1 Gen. Segundo Street, Heroes Hills, Quezon City.

The elder Castillo, who sustained the more serious injury, a stab wound in the right side of the body, was first taken to the Manila Central University (MCU) Hospital in Caloocan City before he was transferred to the Veterans Memorial Medical Center in Quezon City. Joseph Jesus was wounded in the right arm.

A manhunt operation is now being conducted by the Caloocan City police for the suspects, Mantele said.

PO3 Rey Domingo, officer on case, said the incident took place along a stretch of the NLEX in Sta. Quiteria, Caloocan City just before the toll gate. Initial investigation showed the victims were crusing towards Manila in a green pick-up when it had a flat tire forcing them to stop on the shoulder.

As the duo were replacing the busted tire, the two suspects showed up from nowhere and announced a holdup. The son told probers that he thought the two came over to help them. Upon hearing the word "holdup," Jesus said his father tried to grab the knife from one of the suspects but was stabbed in the right side of his body. As the son rose to his father’s aid, the other suspect stabbed him, hitting him in the right arm.

Effectively immobilized, the victims could only watch as the suspects took everything of value they could get from the vehicle before fleeing in the dark.

Police said concerned motorists brought the victims to the nearest hospital. — Jerry Botial