2 slain, 3 hurt in gang riot

MANILA, Philippines - Two persons were killed and three others, including a police officer, were wounded when two rival gangs clashed in Bagong Barrio, Caloocan City at past midnight Sunday.

Police Officers 1 Bryan Mara and Arnel Pugong were manning the Bagong Barrio police precinct along with several barangay officials and watchmen in Barangay 132 when, at around 1 a.m., concerned citizens alerted them to a street fight reportedly involving members of the Sawako and Demons gangs.

The police officers and barangay officials responded, but the two gangs shot at them, hitting Mara in the right leg and barangay tanod Antonio Adap in the chest.

The police officers retaliated, hitting Sawako member Mark Joseph Yekla, 24, and Demons member John Chrisford Leyno, 19. The two gang members died in the hospital. 

A bystander, Wison Malig, was hurt when a bullet grazed his abdomen.

No arrests were made. Mara and Pugong were placed under restrictive custody pending the investigation of the incident.