Killing of fraternity member solved

The senseless killing of a street fraternity gang member in Sta. Cruz, Manila last week has been solved with the arrest of one of the four suspects after follow-up operations by operatives of the homicide section of the Western Police District.

SPO1 Virgo Villareal, officer-in-charge, arrested the 17-year-old suspect at his residence in Caloocan City after being positively identified by two youths who witnessed the shooting.

The suspect, a freshman student of San Sebastian College and known to his gangmates by his alias "Zyke," was identified by witnesses as one of four members of the Temple Street Trece Fraternity gang who shot to death Michael Duque,, 17, a member of the rival True Brown Style Fraternity gang.

According to Villareal, the victim and his gangmates were drinking at the former’s compound at 1652 Malabon st., Sta. Cruz at about 12:30 a.m. last Friday when the victim went outside to talk to a woman.

A green car then came to a halt in front of the victim and out came four youths including Zyke who was reportedly holding a gun. Another suspect, whom witnesses identified as Jonathan Estacio, alias "Sky," shot the victim several times in the body.

Before boarding the car, Zyke was overheard by witnesses shouting, "Sky, Tama na yan, patay na yan (It’s over Sky, he’s already dead)."

Villareal said six empty shells from a caliber .9 mm pistol were recovered at the scene of the shooting. Follow-up operations were conducted on the lairs of the four suspects but proved negative.

Two witnesses led police to the residence of Zyke at 102 Binhagan street in Caloocan City where he surrendered peacefully. Murder charges were also filed against Estacio, who still remains at large together with the two other suspects.