Two call center workers shot dead

MANILA, Philippines - A man and a woman were shot with Armalite rifle in their sleep inside a house in Sta. Mesa, Manila early yesterday morning.

Police found the bullet-riddled bodies of Kim Gerald Panganiban, 25, and Analyn Enriquez, 22, both call center workers, inside the second floor room at 1542 Duhat st., Nagtahan, Sta. Mesa, Manila. Panganiban was sprawled on the floor with five gunshot wounds in the back, while Enriquez was lying in bed with six bullet wounds. Empty shells from an M-16 rifle were scattered in the room.

Police identified Noel Saludes, alias “Daboy,” 24, a security guard and Panganiban’s brother-in-law as the gunman.

Case investigator SPO1 Edgardo Ko said one of the possible motives for the shooting was Saludes’ hatred for his brother-in-law following the separation of Panganiban from his sister. Several weeks ago, Panganiban and his wife Weny had a bitter quarrel resulting in the leaving of Weny and their two children for Laguna. Saludes opted to remain in the house with Panganiban, but reportedly harbored a bitter grudge against his brother-in law. Days after the separation, Panganiban brought home Enriquez, also a call center worker and allegedly his lover.

There are reports that during his drinking session with his friends, Saludes vowed to kill his brother-in-law.

At around 3:30 a.m. yesterday, Saludes who was reportedly already drunk left his drinking buddies to go home. After a few minutes gunfires were heard inside the room.

Saludes was seen running away from the house, but not after informing a barangay kagawad that there was a shooting incident inside his brother-in-law’s house. Police recovered Saludes’ personal key still at the door’s keyhole.

Chief Inspector Erwin Margarejo, who heads the homicide section of the Manila Police District, said his men failed to recover the Armalite rifle. He said it was a puzzle where Saludes left the rifle since the kagawad did not notice the suspect carrying an M-16 while running away.

Margarejo launched a manhunt for the suspect, while police are still scouring the crime scene for the recovery of the rifle.