2 customers shot dead at Ermita videoke bar

Two customers at a videoke bar in Ermita, Manila were shot dead following a petty quarrel on the dance floor early yesterday.

Rocky Nablo and Richard de Lara, both 21, were declared dead on arrival at the Philippine General Hospital while their companion, Ronald Bantilan, 22, is still under observation at the same hospital for a bullet wound in the left thigh.

Investigation showed the three victims were drinking at the Art and Dai Sing-along and Restaurant along Natividad street in Ermita at around 2:30 a.m. when the four suspects arrived and ordered beer.

Nablo and Bantilan danced with the waitresses, who happened to be Nablo’s relatives. At this juncture, one of the suspects joined in the dancing and reportedly intentionally bumped the victims. Cooler heads prevented a fistfight from happening.

Minutes later, two of the suspects hurriedly left the bar and were seen by witnesses talking with someone guarding a vacant lot across the street. When the two men returned, one was holding a gun and fired repeatedly at the victims. The four suspects then fled on foot. The police recovered five empty shells at the scene of the shooting.

According to De Lara’s mother, her son was vomiting outside the bar when the gunman shot him several times.

A police team led by Senior Inspector Erwin Margarejo and SPO4 Ed Paterno raided the Islamic Center in Quiapo, Manila, which led to the apprehension of one of the suspects, identified as Romel Silvestre, 29.

Silvestre identified two of his companions as a certain “EJ,” the alleged gunman, and James Moran. However, police failed to find EJ and Moran at their residences. Homicide section head Chief Inspector Dominador Arevalo Jr. ordered a manhunt for the three remaining suspects.

Two counts of murder and frustrated murder are being readied against the suspects.