Thirsty for blood

A vendor who was said to have been possessed by evil spirits was shot dead by a policeman the other night, but not before the former stabbed and killed three people while wounding 12 others in Mandaluyong City.

PO2 Apolinario Atienza of the local police operations center, emptied his service firearm, a caliber .9 mm automatic pistol, on suspect, Jerry Bio, 29, a native of Matnog, Sorsogon and resident of Nueve de Pebrero street, Barangay Addition Hills after the suspect attacked him instead of heeding his call to give up.

Bio sustained multiple gunshot wounds in the body and died on the spot.

Atienza immediately surrendered to his superior officer, Superintendent Ericson Velasquez, Mandaluyong City police chief, after the incident. He also surrendered his service firearm.

Connie Padison, the suspect’s live-in partner claimed Bio had been staying with his parents in Sorsogon, but she decided to ask him to be with her at their home in Mandaluyong City last Wednesday because he was possessed by evil spirits.

"Mabait na tao ’yan. Hindi n’ya gagawin ’yan kung hindi siya nakulam," Padison said.

Velasquez said Bio grabbed two knives from their kitchen near midnight last Wednesday and stabbed his uncle, Miguel Gabas, who was asleep.

Although wounded, Gabas, managed to run outside and shouted for help as Bio chased him.

Once outside, Bio attacked everyone he met from Nueve de Pebrero, Shaw Boulevard, Bonifacio street, and Libis street in Barangay Hagdang Bato. His stabbing rampage ended near a 7-Eleven convenience store and the Infotech College.

Atienza and Chief Inspector Bienvy Calag Jr. were in the vicinity when they heard the screams and shouts for help.

When the cops cornered Bio, they asked him to surrender, but the suspect lunged at them, prompting Atienza to open fire.

Responding policemen and bystanders rushed the wounded to the Mandaluyong City Medical Center (MCMC).

Three of them — Charles Ramirez, 52, a janitor and resident of Nueve de Pebrero street, Barangay Addition Hills; Pedro de la Cruz, of Block 19, Welfareville Compound and an unidentified taho vendor died.

Those currently being treated were Gabas; Ronnel Landig, 23; Herbert Bautista, 18; Arsenio Rogelio, 33; Rudy Esquillo, 18; Melchor Valdez, 34; Ricardo Tenorio, 22; Joseph Butnon, 33; Roberto Jimenez; Ariel Lerum; Jojo Mesina, and Jay Balinquit.