1 killed, 3 injured in San Andres rumble

As the nation was celebrating Christmas Day, a man was stabbed dead while three of his companions were seriously wounded during a street fight in San Andres Bukid, Manila.

Western Police District officials identified the fatality as Antonio Agarao, 22, a resident of Radium street in San Andres Bukid, Manila.

He was declared dead on arrival at the Philippine General Hospital after sustaining three stab wounds in the chest and a stab wound in the right side of the body.

According to police, Agarao, along with his friends James de Leon, 22; Jesus Banate, 23; and Arnold Haldo, 27; all residents of Radium Street, were chatting in front of the barangay hall of Barangay 775 at the corner of Onyx and Estrada Streets at about 3 a.m. when suspect Michael Perucho, 24, along with a group of men passed by.

Police said a heated argument then ensued between the victims and the group of Perucho, a waiter, of 1664 Estrada Street, San Andres Bukid.

Shortly thereafter, police said Perucho allegedly pulled out an icepick and went after Agarao. The other victims sustained multiple stab wounds in the hands and body after they tried to rescue Agarao. They are now confined at the Ospital ng Maynila.

According to investigators of the Western Police District Homicide Section, Perucho has already sent surrender feelers to the police through his father.

Meanwhile, an hour earlier, a street gang violence claimed the life of a 28-year-old gang member in Tondo.

Homicide probers identified the victim as Alfonso Esteban, a member of the True Brotherhood Society (TBS) gang, and a resident of Solis, Tondo.

According to an initial investigation conducted by officer-on-case Senior Police Officer 1 Virgo Villareal, the victim, along with his other gang mates were gathered along Solis Street at about 2 a.m. when they were suddenly attacked by members of the rival "Antipolo Group" gang.

Villareal said a rock-throwing spree then erupted which forced the "Antipolo Group" to retreat.

As the rival gang was retreating, two gunshots were heard and Esteban was then seen slumped on the ground with a lone bullet wound in the chest.

Villareal said the victim could have been shot with a homemade shotgun or with a caliber .45 pistol based on the size of the wound he sustained.

Shortly after the incident, a resident of the area, 27-year-old Leonardo Vidal, was allegedly stabbed by Esteban’s group thinking that he was a member of the rival gang, police said. He is now confined at the Ospital ng Maynila after sustaining a knife wound in the chest. – Mike Frialde