CPD director Senior Superintendent Nicasio Radovan identified the suspects as Jerome Flores, 23; and Argel Magdaraog, 21, both residents of Barangay San Jose.
The two were arrested by operatives of the CPD-Station 1 in La Loma hours after Jelom Carlo Quizon, 14, a student and resident of 9 Economics St., GSIS Village, Project 8, was slain along A. Bonifacio Avenue early Saturday morning.
The suspects were subsequently turned over to the Central Police District’s Criminal Investigation Unit (CPD-CIU) in Camp Karingal for detention.
"Our cops in Quezon City will run the extra mile to ensure that criminals are brought to justice. It is the commitment of the entire Quezon City police force to see to it that there is no rest to the wicked, especially in the streets of Quezon City," Radovan said.
Senior Superintendent Procopio Lipana, head of the CPD-CIU, told The STAR that based on the initial information gathered by detectives, it appeared that the incident was an offshoot of a long-time "war" between the victim’s and suspects’ respective groups.
Quizon reportedly belonged to a gang called Temple Street Trese (TST) while the suspects belong to the Notorious Brown Killa (NBK) gang.
Police have yet to find out if the gunman were among the two arrested suspects. Police said they will be subjected to paraffin test. Three more suspects are being hunted down by authorities.
At around 5:15 a.m. the other day, Quizon and several companions were waiting for a ride along A. Bonifacio Avenue near Malindang St., Barangay N.S. Amoranto after attending the traditional Misa De Gallo, when a group of men aboard a tricycle appeared and opened fire at them.
Quizon and his two friends, Gener Balangkit, of Tandang Sora Avenue; and Angelo Abangan, 19, of Project 8, were hit. Quizon sustained a bullet wound in the abdomen while Abangan and Balangkit each sustained a bullet wound in the abdomen and leg, respectively.
All three were taken to the Chinese General Hospital but Quizon was declared dead on arrival.