Teen killed in New Year's Day gang war

MANILA, Philippines - A teenager was killed and his companion hurt by stray bullets during a shootout between two warring gangs in Rodriguez, Rizal at past midnight yesterday.

Alexander Villanueva, 16, was declared dead on arrival from a bullet wound in the chest at the Rodriguez Infirmary hospital.

His companion, Joel Espinosa, sustained a gunshot wound and is being treated at the Amang Rodriguez Medical Center.

Senior Superintendent Ireneo Dordas, Rizal police provincial director said Bersan Santiago and his brother, Hermoson, were arrested after witnesses tagged them for the death of Villanueva and the wounding of Espinosa.

However, the Santiago brothers vehemently denied the charges against them. “We are the victims here,” they told police investigators.

Dordas said Villanueva had just finished his media noche (New Year’s Eve dinner) with his family at their home in Kasiglahan Village in Rodriguez town when he, Espinosa and several others went for a walk.

Minutes later, shots rang out and Villanueva and Espinosa fell to the ground, bleeding. Neighbors rushed Villanueva to the hospital, where they chanced upon the Santiago brothers being treated there for body injuries.

Dordas said responding policemen arrested the Santiago brothers after witnesses, including barangay officials, pointed to them as the suspects in the shooting incident.

Berson is a security guard while Hermoson is a laborer.

Policemen failed to recover the gun used in the shooting.

Dordas said they are still determining the identities of Santiago brothers’ reported enemies.