Moving-out tenant slain by landlords

What’s in a room?

A 42-year-old buy-and-sell trader was shot dead by his landlords following an argument over his insistence to vacate his rented room early yesterday in Sta. Cruz, Manila.

Dead on the spot was Orlando Manalo, one of the tenants of a house at 1204 Tambunting St., Sta. Cruz, owned by brothers surnamed Mensero. He sustained a gunshot wound in the chest.

The suspects, identified as George and Leonardo Mensero, escaped after the incident and are now the subject of a police manhunt.

Investigation conducted by detective Raul Olavario showed that at past midnight yesterday the victim arrived at the house where he was invited by the suspects for a drinking session. The victim reportedly turned down the invitation.

It was gathered that the suspects had been wooing the victim to remain as their tenant in one of the rooms of the house after they learned that he was going to transfer to another room for rent across the street. However, the victim remained adamant in his decision to transfer, which angered George who allegedly shot the victim twice with an improvised arrow, hitting him superficially once in the back.

The other suspect, Leonardo, went to his room and got his gun but was pacified by his wife. The protagonists were then summoned by their barangay chairman to settle their disputes.

However, when the victim arrived at his rented room past 3 a.m. yesterday he found out that its electricity connection had been cut by his landlords, forcing him to confront the suspects.

It was at this juncture that residents heard a gunshot and later saw the bloodied victim lying dead outside the house.

Olivario said George and Leonardo became the principal suspects in the killing since the two fled their house right after the incident.