Tondo lovers fall to death

Apparently distraught over an argument, a man threw his lover off their room at the sixth floor of a tenement building in Tondo, Manila before leaping to his death yesterday.

Police identified the star-crossed couple as Maricel Rodriguez, 21; and Noriel Gregorio, 26; both residing at the 6th floor of the tenement building located at 607 Vitas St., Tondo, Manila.

Initial investigation conducted by the Western Police District homicide section said before the incident, the couple was seen quarreling by their neighbors at about 11:45 a.m.

Case investigator Senior Police Officer 2 Athos de Quiros said that after a few minutes, the couple simmered down and apparently tried to reconcile.

But after a few minutes, Gregorio approached Rodriguez, who was then sending a text message near the ledge of their rented room and lifted her up.

Police said Noriel then reportedly threw Maricel off the ledge before jumping off.

Police said Rodriguez and Gregorio were taken by their neighbors to the Tondo Medical Center but were declared dead on arrival.

Meanwhile, a 46-year-old man was hacked to death for allegedly cheating in a billiards game in Caloocan City the other day, the police said.

Killed due to multiple hack wounds in the body was Eddie Darbosa, 46, of Miramonte Park, Caloocan City and a native of Iloilo City.

His attacker, Solomon Satsatin, 28, of Libon, Albay, residing at 301 CBY Barracks 2, Tala, Caloocan City fled after the incident, said PO3 Elvis Imperial, officer-on-case.

Police said the incident took place near the victim’s house around 6 p.m., a few minutes after the victim and the suspect engaged in a verbal tussle while playing in a billiard hall in front of a tricycle terminal.

Witnesses said that before the killing, the victim punched the suspect after he discovered he was being cheated by the victim.

They said the victim punched the suspect and left after seeing his opponent fall to the ground. But the suspect allegedly waited in ambush a few blocks away from the billiard hall.

As soon as he saw Darbosa walking all alone, Satsatin, without a word, attacked and hacked him with a bolo, the police said. – Mike Frialde and Jerry Botial