2 killed in Caloocan New Year’s Eve party

MANILA, Philippines - Two persons were killed while 10 others were wounded when two gunmen went on a shooting rampage and terrorized a street party on New Year’s Eve in Caloocan City.

Residents of 2nd street, Barangay 118 in 4th Avenue were welcoming the New Year and watching teenagers dance in a street party at around 11:45 p.m. when 26-year-old Noriel Padilla, alias Totoy Ampatuan, arrived and started shooting at the crowd. Police identified another suspect as Padilla's brother Jetjet.

Police investigators said the suspects escaped after the shooting incident.

Investigators said a closed-circuit television camera near the crime scene showed the two brothers shooting at the victims.

Some of the victims said they did not notice the gunshots because of firecracker explosions around them.

Police identified the casualties as Renato Bautista, 45, a resident of Pandacan, Manila, and Jovito Alnas, of 4th Avenue.

Injured were Camille Cacatian, 5; Iris Varrosa, 8; Alverson Lozada, 16; Kenneth Lozada, 18; Annalie Villaflores, 26; China Velasquez, 17; Alvin Calundasion, 27; Anadel Villaflores, Renz Piolo Esperida and Allan Dorado.

Four of the injured were taken to the President Diosdado Macapagal Memorial Medical Center (PDMMMC) in Caloocan, while the others were brought to the Jose Reyes Memorial Medical Center in Manila.

Dr. Placido Roman Cruz of PDMMMC said the four injured victims were in stable condition.

Two of the victims were transferred to an undisclosed hospital.

The guard on duty at the PDMMMC said most of the victims suffered gunshot wounds in the legs.

Caloocan police investigation division chief Superintendent Ferdinand del Rosario said three .45-caliber slugs were recovered from the crime scene. There were reports that another suspect was also carrying a shotgun during the shooting.

“We are now trying to locate the Padillas. A team was sent to track them down,” Del Rosario said. Police are checking the background of the suspect and allegations of some residents that he had been involved in several shooting incidents in the past.

According to witnesses, the Padillas were  nephews of a man who was killed in a drug-related incident in the area last February.

A resident said Padilla had been threatening residents in the area that he would seek revenge for the death of his uncle.