Gory lynching in Pandacan

A 20-year-old man was shot, stabbed, bludgeoned and mauled to death yesterday by some 20 men in Pandacan, Manila and pounded to a bloodied pulp until their own brutality scared the attackers themselves and they fled.

The reason for the attack on Elvis Visaya, 20, and the identity of his attackers remained undetermined as witnesses could only attest that they saw the victim being chased and later cornered and lynched by the irate mob on Labores Extension in Pandacan.

Based on the investigation of Senior Police Officer 1 Raul Olavario of the Western Police District Homicide Unit, the killing happened at past midnight yesterday while Visaya was on his way home to Interior 27, Pandacan. Visaya had earlier joined a drinking session with the relatives of a birthday celebrant in the vicinity after fixing the party’s sound system.

After Visaya had left for home, witnesses saw him being chased and gunshots rang out. The mob then stabbed and hit him with wooden clubs until he was bathed in his own blood.

The sight of the bloodied, mangled body of the victim prompted the mob to flee.

The victim was taken to the Philippine General Hospital but was declared dead upon arrival. Investigators said that among Visaya’s injuries were a fatal gunshot wound in the head.

Police are still investigating the incident. — Jose Aravilla