Caloocan youth leader slain

A 26-year-old youth leader and political coordinator of incumbent Caloocan City Mayor Reynaldo Malonzo was found dead yesterday morning at his residence with multiple stab wounds in his body.

Manuel "Man-man" Aparri, also a national coordinator of Kaisangbayan, a pro-administration non-government organization (NGO), succumbed to at least 30 stab wounds in the chest, neck and at the back.

Aparri’s body which was soaked with blood, was found by his sister, Badette, inside his house at Block 57, Lot 20, Phase 3, F-2, Barangay 8, Kaunlaran Village in Dagat-Dagatan at around 9:30 a.m.

Barangay kagawad Jojie Gruta, 44, told The STAR that Badette was disturbed when his brother, also a gay group leader, failed to answer her text messages and phone calls early in the morning.

"Worried that something wrong happened with her brother, Badette decided to go the victim’s house," Gruta said.

Rose Sasota, another barangay kagawad, said the victim was a peaceful and respected youth leader in their area and that she did not know anyone who may have harbored ill feelings against him.

Chief Inspector Mario Sinocruz, who went to the crime scene, said they could not ascertain yet a possible motive in the killing.

"We canot exactly ascertain the real motive, but missing from the victim’s house were his laptop, his cellular phone and an undetermined amount of cash," Sinocruz said.

He added that they are now hunting down two gay friends of the victim, one identified only as Angel, who was reportedly with him the night before the incident.

Police recovered on top of the victim’s refrigerator a blooded screwdriver believed to be the weapon used in stabbing Aparri.

Malonzo, however, claimed that his youth leader was a victim of political violence.

"I’m appealing to my political nemesis to immediately put a stop to these cowardly acts," Malonzo said.

Malonzo did not mention any names, but said that he would enforce the full force of the law to find justice to his slain supporter.