Cops hunt down 2 in Caloocan shooting

Manila, Philippines - The Caloocan City police launched a manhunt yesterday for two motorcycle-riding gunmen who shot dead two men and wounded four others who were having a roadside drinking session in Barangay 179 Wednesday night.

City police chief Senior Superintendent Jude Santos said his men are still conducting a follow-up investigation in the killing of Leonilo Antonio, 33; and Chat Julius, 21. The shooters wounded Joseph del Miguez, 27; Jerbie Molina, 23; Arjay Octobre, 20; and Alvin Cablan, 22.

Julius is a resident of Bulacan while the four other victims are all residents of Caloocan City.

“We are exerting effort to identify and arrest the gunmen. I have deployed cracked teams do more legwork in the field,” Santos told The STAR.

The victims were drinking outside Molina’s house when, at around 10:30 p.m., two men riding a motorcycle shot at them then sped off.

Antonio and Julius were declared dead on arrival at the FEU Hospital due to gunshot wounds in the body while their four companions were still being treated at the same hospital.

A crime scene investigation team from the Northern Police District, led by Chief Inspector Benigno Asilar Jr., recovered at least 18 slugs and three bullets for a .22 caliber firearm at the crime scene.

Santos said his men are also checking the background of the six victims to help investigators establish the shooters’ motive in trying to “eliminate” all of them.

 – Jerry Botial, Pete Laude