Atienza orders more police visibility in Malate, Ermita areas

Manila Mayor Lito Atienza ordered yesterday the Western Police District to intensify its patrols around the city’s tourist belt in Malate and Ermita, following a bloody rumble early Friday morning between two groups of youths that resulted in the death of a young man and the wounding of his two companions.

"We will not tolerate hooliganism and acts of violence in Manila, especially in the tourist belt area," Atienza said.

Killed in the incident was Roberto Juntaneza Jr., 19, while his friends Erwin Santos, 20, and Jose Victorio Rey Lara, 25, were seriously injured. The victims are all residents of San Andres Bukid, Manila.

Manila Police said the rumble happened at about 2 a.m. at the corner of J. Bocobo and Pedro Gil streets in front of the Manila Midtown Hotel in Malate.

Police said Juntaneza’s group had just come from a band audition at the Wave bar on J. Nakpil Street when a red car, with the word "Boss" written on its side, suddenly pulled over in front of them.

Two of the three unidentified men aboard the car alighted and confronted Juntaneza if they had any problem with them. The two men returned to their car and sped away after the victims simply ignored them, police said.

Later, Juntaneza and his friends were waiting for a jeepney at Pedro Gil street when at least 10 men reportedly armed with wooden paddles with nails at the edges, knives and other bladed weapons, attacked them.

Juntaneza and his two friends were stabbed when they tried to fight back. Juntaneza sustained stab wounds in various parts of the body while his friends sustained cuts in the arms.

Investigators said the suspects later fled the scene. Bystanders meanwhile rushed the victims to the Philippine General Hospital.

Meanwhile, Atienza also ordered the WPD to focus on the case and apprehend the suspects at the soonest time possible.