Security guard shot dead inside mosque

A 22-year-old security guard, who boasted of powers to survive bullets, was shot dead by a still unidentified armed man inside a mosque yesterday in Diliman, Quezon City.

Victim Jeric Silay, a resident of Maharlika Village, Bicutan, Taguig, sustained at least ten gunshot wounds in the head and body. He died on the spot.

The suspect, described as a man in his early thirties, fled right after the shooting, taking with him the fatal weapon, a .45 caliber pistol. Investigators believe the assailant is a hired killer.

Initial investigation showed that the incident took place at about 11 a.m. inside Botanical Mosque at 342 Gumamela Street, corner Kadena de Amor, in Diliman.

Silay, a Muslim, had just finished praying and was sitting inside the mosque when the gunman approached him from behind. According to PO2 Rogelio Esteves, the killer cursed the victim and pointed his gun at him.

Esteves added that Silay was reportedly confident and unfazed by the gunman and even boasted that he could survive the bullets. With that, the suspect fired ten shots and immediately escaped, leaving the bleeding Silay slumped on a chair inside the mosque.

Meanwhile, another security guard was shot dead Sunday night in Quezon City for simply being a province-mate of his alleged killer’s enemies.

Police identified the victim as Norberto Perez, Jr., of Acapulco Street, Barangay Payatas A, QC.

The suspect, a certain Jeboy Gabias, escaped after the incident happened at around 11 p.m. along Acapulco Street.

Perez, a native of Bacolod City, was walking home with his brother Nestor and brother-in-law Ronnie Guardia, when they chanced upon Gabias and his group engaged in a fight with another gang, the members of which were mostly Ilonggos.

Gabias, reportedly a Cebuano, allegedly shot Perez with a sumpak (homemade shotgun) simply because the victim was also an Ilonggo.

Perez sustained nine pellet wounds in his back. He was rushed to the Fairview General Hospital where he was pronounced dead on arrival.

Police are still investigating what triggered the fight between the two groups. – Matthew Estabillo and Nikko Dizon