Manhunt on for guard who shot teen

The Manila Police District (MPD) has launched a manhunt for a security guard who allegedly shot dead a 15-year-old boy who was on the roof of a taxi terminal in Tondo, Manila Saturday morning.

MPD homicide section head Chief Inspector Dominador Arevalo Jr. said Joven de la Cruz left his post at Pioneer Transport Services, bringing with him the service shotgun. De la Cruz is employed by Dogwar Security Agency.

The victim, Rodel Garcia, a Grade 5 student, of Happy Land, Tondo, was found dead with gunshot wounds in the back. He reportedly landed on electric transformers at the taxi terminal after falling from the roof when he was fired upon, allegedly by De la Cruz.

According to Romulo Manaloto, a driver-mechanic at the taxi terminal, De la Cruz woke him up and told him he had shot a boy. De la Cruz was reportedly manning his post when he heard noises from the roof of the stock room.

When he checked out the source of the noises, De la Cruz said he saw two men on the roof, one of whom was armed with a gun. De la Cruz said the armed man pointed his gun at him, prompting him to fire his shotgun.

The victim’s father, Rodolfo Garcia, told police his son was fetched by three friends shortly before he was found dead, but failed to identify them. He stressed his son was not a thief.

Barangay watchman Bonifacio Odono told the police that he had seen the boy with male companions casing the taxi terminal shortly before the shooting. Arevalo said he will coordinate with the security agency to facilitate De la Cruz’s immediate surrender. – Nestor Etolle