2 critically hurt during Christmas revelry in Caloocan, Valenzuela

At least two persons were critically hurt during Christmas celebrations in Valenzuela and Caloocan City early morning yesterday.

Mark Anthony Romano, 26, a resident of Bagong Barrio, Caloocan City, is now confined at the Dr. Jose Reyes Memorial Medical Center due to a bullet wound in the back.

Police said that at around 5 a.m., Romano and his friends were in a drinking bout in celebration of Christmas in front of their house in Barangay 149 in Bagong Barrio, when suspects Rommel Dan Manansala and Alvin Belong arrived. Manansala and Belong, both residents of Bagong Barrio and harboring an old grudge on Romano, ganged up on the startled victim, police said. Not contented, Manansala shot Romano once in the back with his .38 caliber revolver.

Manansala and Belong fled after the incident and remain at-large.

Romano was rushed to the Quezon City General Hospital for treatment but was later transferred to DJRMMC due to his unstable condition.

In Valenzuela City, Alex Dedicatoria, 49, a salesman, and a resident of Barangay Gen. T. de Leon, also landed in the hospital when attacked by his 19-year-old neighbor Jesus Manlapig. At around 5 a.m., Dedicatoria, who went to sleep late after a Christmas party, noticed the suspect inside their house.

Suspicious of Manlapig’s intensions, the victim checked on his wallet and discovered that his P1,500 was already missing. He confronted Manlapig and told him to return the money. Manlapig denied having the money and instead attacked Dedicatoria and stabbed him several times in the body.

Police, led by PO3 Villamor Nayao, arrested the suspect while about to flee.

Dedicatoria was brought to the Valenzuela City General Hospital where he was still under confinement as of yesterday.

Police were readying frustrated murder charges against the suspect.