Hotel worker killed in Tondo church

A 21-year-old hotel employee was gunned down by a member of a gang in the compound of a church in Tondo, Manila.

Alejandro Hilvano, an employee of Bayview Park Hotel on Roxas Boulevard and resident of Gagalangin, Tondo, was declared dead on arrival at the Tondo Medical Center.

Police Officer 2 Jay Santos said Hilvano had a long-standing grudge with a certain “Buma,” a member of a youth gang in Tondo whose members are mostly skinheads.

Trying to avoid crossing paths with his enemy, Hilvano and his friend Mark Teleb chose to ride a motorcycle along Juan Luna street, passing by Saint Joseph Church, on their way home.

Little did they know that Buma and his gangmates were drinking at the church compound. Seeing Hilvano approach, Buma reportedly pulled out a pistol from his waistband even as Hilvano tried to turn away. Buma fired several times at Hilvano, who fell from his motorcycle.

Buma then turned on Teleb and fired, but ran out of bullets. Teleb was able to escape unharmed.

Police learned Buma was aided in the shooting by a gangmate identified only as Mak-Mak. The two suspects escaped after the shooting.

A manhunt was launched by the police against the two suspects, described as skinheads and in their early 20s. Buma was also described as having tattoos all over his body.  — Nestor Etolle