Teen burglary suspect killed at MWSS compound

MANILA, Philippines - A teenager believed to be a burglar was shot and killed by a security guard after he was seen trespassing in the compound of the Metropolitan Waterworks and Sewerage Systems in Quezon City before dawn yesterday.

Jerome Ponce, 18, a construction worker residing in nearby Barangay Pansol, was shot and killed by Virgilio Gonzales Jr., a guard at the MWSS compound.

Police Officer 3 Randy Bantillo said Ponce died after sustaining a gunshot wound in the abdomen and another in the buttocks. Though he had been shot, Ponce still managed to run away from the guard who was chasing him. He later fell into a nearby creek and died.

Bantillo said Gonzales was on patrol when he spotted Ponce roaming inside the compound. He started moving towards Ponce, who tried to run out of the compound. The guard then fired shots to stop the suspected burglar.

Bantillo said he was told there had been several burglaries in the compound.