Gang fight: 1 dead, 2 hurt

A 17-year-old boy was killed and his two companions were wounded after they were shot by suspected members of a rival street gang in Sampaloc, Manila, early yesterday morning.

Manila police identified the fatality as Joseph Ivaso, of 1078 Blumentritt St., Sta. Cruz, Manila.

His wounded companions were identified as Bryan Lanot, 17, of 1132 Prudencio St., Sampaloc, Manila; and Rolando Lipana, 20, of 1070 Prudencio St.

According to Senior Police Officer 1 Virgo Villareal, homicide investigator, the victims were standing and chatting at the corner of Piy Margal and Prudencio Streets at about 1 a.m. when a green car with four unidentified men suddenly stopped in front of them.

Without warning, a man inside the car pointed a 9 mm pistol at the victims and opened fire at close range.

Ivasco was hit seven times in various parts of the body and died on the spot while his companions were hit in the back and chest. They were rushed to the University of Santo Tomas Hospital where they are still confined.

Police said the suspects fled after the incident. Recovered at the crime scene were several empty 9 mm shells.

Villareal said the incident could be street gang- related as Ivaso and Lanot were members of the True Brown Style Gang which has an ongoing tiff with the rival Temple Street Trese Gang.

Earlier, Manila Mayor Lito Atienza ordered the Western Police District to crack down on the activities of the two gangs following several violent clashes that left bystanders wounded.

Residents of areas the two gangs claim as "territories" also expressed fear knowing that most of the gang members are armed with knives, improvised shotguns and pistols.

Meanwhile, six unidentified gunmen barged into a plastics store, hogtied its Fil-Chinese owner and his son and carted away some P300,000 in cash and valuables yesterday morning in Caloocan City.

Station Intelligence and Investigation Division (SIID) chief Superintendent Dionicio Borromeo said the armed men forced their way into the D’ Plastic Craft Marketing at 112, 11th Avenue, Grace Park, Caloocan by poking their guns at Restituto Tan, 61, as he opened the door.

Tan and his son, Dennis, were shoved inside and their hands and feet tied before the robbers ransacked the store at around six in the morning after one of them knocked on the door.

As the elder Tan showed his face, the man poked a gun at his face and ordered him to open the door. Five of the man’s cohorts entered and ordered them to lie face down on the floor and tied them up.

Police said the suspects ran away with P200,000 in cash and two Nokia 8210 worth P15,000 each and an expensive caliber .45 handgun.

Pursuit operations have been conducted by the station’s follow up unit to arrest the suspects. – Mike Frialde and Jerry Botial