Girl crushed to death in Pandacan

A seven-year old girl was killed while three of her companions were injured when they were sideswiped by a tanker truck in Pandacan, Manila the other night.

Police identified the fatality as Mary Anne Torcuator, a grade one student of 2800 Beata st., Pandacan, Manila. Injured were Mary Anne’s sister Mercy, 11; their father Jesus, 54; and mother Myrna, 40.

According to police, the victims were crossing Beata street at about 6:30 p.m. when the truck with plate number PJS-947 and driven by Ricky Magkulang, 31, of 65 Antonio, Abangan Norte, Marilao, Bulacan, appeared.

Police said the truck apparently went out of control and careened into the victims. Mary Anne died on the spot while concerned bystanders rushed the three other victims to the Philippine General Hospital.

Magkulang later surrendered to the police and is now undergoing investigation.

Meanwhile, five youngsters were taken to the hospital after being hit by shrapnel from a ‘pillbox’ thrown by suspected members of a rival fraternity during a midnight Mass in Caloocan City yesterday.

Taken to the Manila Central University (MCU) Hospital were John Kenneth Gruto, 13, of J. Rodriguez Street; Angeline Gumatay, 14, of 46 D.M. Hizon Street; Mark Joseph Legaspi, 13, of Libis Espina; Joel Orense, 13, of Torres Bugallon Street; and Ryan Guinto, 16, of Sangandaan, all of Caloocan City.

Arrested by the police later were Edgar delos Santos, 17, of 2624 Dagupan Extension, Tondo, Manila; Allan James, 17, of 92 Kapanalig Street, Marcela; and Jimbo Cabuhat, 18, of 14 Lourdes Street, Bagong Sibol, Caloocan City.

Police reports showed the ‘pillbox’ throwing occurred at around 4:30 a.m. in front of the San Roque Parish Church along A. Mabini Street.

Police gathered that as the victims were hearing Mass outside the church, a ‘pillbox’ was thrown by the suspects which exploded and injured the victims.

The suspects blended in with the churchgoers who stampeded after the crude bomb exploded but were arrested by the police during follow-up operations. – Mike Frialde and Jerry Botial