Out-of-school youth dies in shootout with police

MANILA, Philippines – A 15-year-old out-of-school youth died after he allegedly traded shots with Manila policemen responding to a gang riot in Tondo, Manila past midnight yesterday. Raffy Hayahay, of Parola Compound, Tondo, expired at the Gat Andres Bonifacio Medical Center while undergoing treatment for multiple gunshot wounds in the body.

Police Officer 3 Arnel Tubbali and PO2 Dexter Arciaga, detailed at the Delpan outpost of the Moriones police station who responded to the scene of the riot along Gate 10 of Area B in Parola Compound, submitted themselves for investigation before the homicide section of the Manila Police District right after the incident

According to the two police officers, they received a call for assistance to pacify an ongoing gang war past midnight. Arriving at the place on board a police marked vehicle, they said they witnessed two groups of males exchanging gunfires. A group of men also started shooting at them, prompting them to retaliate by firing their service firearms, the cops told investigators. The two warring groups then started running in different directions to evade arrest.

When the smoke cleared, the young victim was seen lying bloodied at the pavement. A homemade shotgun or “sumpak” with a spent cartridge and a live bullet were recovered beside him. The two cops surrendered their service firearms for ballistic examination.

Case officer SPO2 David Tuazon said homicide charges will be filed against Tubbali and Arciaga, even as the two cops will undergo administrative proceedings before the MPD’s District Internal Affairs Section. – Nestor Etolle