Street rumble kills one Tondo teener

A rumble in Tondo, Manila between two groups of teenagers early morning yesterday left a 17-year-old boy dead.

Police identified the victim as John Ray Meneses, of 17-B Maginoo St., Tondo, Manila. He died from a lone stab wound in the stomach. Police said the warring teenagers were armed with homemade shotguns, bladed weapons, and broken bottles.

Investigation showed that before the incident, Meneses was drinking with his friends at about 12:30 a.m. at the corner of Roxas and Capulong Streets in Tondo.

While they were drinking, a group of teenagers arrived and asked if they knew anybody named Bulay and Imon. It was then that one of the victim’s drinking buddies stood up and identified himself as Imon.

The group that asked them then left the scene and later returned with homemade guns and bladed weapons. A rumble then erupted.

After the brief clash, the victim was seen sprawled on the ground. Bystanders rushed him to the Gat Andres Bonifacio Hospital but he was declared dead on arrival. Police are now tracking down those involved in the rumble.

Meanwhile, a Japanese tourist was robbed of cash and valuables by four men posing as agents of the National Bureau of Investigation in Malate, Manila, the other night.

Japanese Shu Sudu, 46, temporarily staying at the City Garden Hotel in Makati City, lodged his complaint before the General Assignments Section of the Western Police District.

In his complaint, Sudu said he was driving along M.H. del Pilar St. Malate, at about 9:45 p.m. when his car was blocked by the suspects’ car.

The victim said the suspects, at gunpoint, took his clutch bag containing a digital camera worth P40,000, a cellular phone worth P30,000, and a Japanese passport. – Mike Frialde