1 slain in Tondo gang riot

Preparations for tomorrow’s feast day of the Santo Niño turned bloody after a clash between two alleged rival street gangs in Tondo, Manila, left one person dead and two others wounded, including a 14-year-old student, early yesterday.

Manila police identified the fatality as Cesar Ramos, 20, of 236 P. Rada St., Tondo. Ramos, who was declared dead on arrival at the Gat Andres Bonifacio General Hospital, sustained two gunshot wounds in the left breast and right shoulder.

Those wounded in the incident were Dennis Otlang, 22, a resident of 249 P. Rada St., and Charlie Arboleda, 14, of 275 P. Herrera Street. Arboleda sustained a bullet wound in the left cheek while Otlang was shot in the right hand.

Initial police investigation showed that Ramos, Arboleda and Otlang were busy putting-up buntings for their barangay fiesta tomorrow at about 3:10 a.m. along Kagitingan street when members of the two rival street gangs clashed.

Police said during the clash, gunshots rang out. Minutes later, witnesses saw the three victims already wounded. Police are still tracking down the suspects.

Meanwhile, a carpenter was shot dead by his neighbor in Sampaloc, Manila, the other night allegedly over a parking row.

Police identified the victim as Rolando Sabrino, 46, of 249 Norma St., Sampaloc, Manila. He sustained multiple gunshot wounds.

The suspect identified as Harold Cariaso, 22, of 821 Ma. Luisa St., Sampaloc, Manila, was arrested shortly after the incident.

According to initial investigation, Sabrino, who was drunk at the time, scolded Cariaso for allegedly parking his pedicab at the corner of Mindanao and Ma. Luisa Streets at about 10:45 p.m.

Police said Cariaso left the scene but later returned with a 9 mm pistol and shot the victim six times at close range. He then hid at his grandfather’s house in Galas, Quezon City where he was later arrested, police said. – Mike Frialde