4 dead in midmorning massacre

MANILA, Philippines - Unidentified attackers shot dead four men visiting a house in Barangay Commonwealth Quezon City yesterday morning, but spared members of the family occupying the house.

Chief Inspector Benjamin Elenzano, who heads the Quezon City police’s homicide investigation section, said two of the five attackers carried a shotgun and an M16 rifle, based on shells recovered from the crime scene.

 Elenzano identified two of the victims as Rodolfo Abrogar, 51, and his son Michael, 28. The two others were Jun Eder – a brother-in-law of Rodolfo’s daughter, Marivic – and a certain Jun, who was Michael’s friend.

Marivic told reporters the four men were at her house yesterday morning to get cans of paint for her mother’s tomb in preparation for All Saints’ Day.

Police Officer 3 Jaime Jimena said that at around 10 a.m., two men pulled aside a curtain at the front door and shot at the victims.

Marivic, who was at the first floor of the house, said the attackers were apparently aiming at the four victims. She said her husband hid in the bathroom during the shooting.

Her four children were upstairs when the attack happened, but the gunmen did not shoot at the children.

Marivic, her husband and their children were not hurt in the incident.

Marivic said that after the victims had fallen, the armed men said, “Clear! Clear!” before fleeing. She said she did not know if the victims, who worked as vendors at a mall in Mandaluyong City, had any enemies.

Police Officer 2 Rodel Tumangday said the three remaining attackers appeared to have served as lookouts near the house.

He said that prior to the attack, a neighbor residing just across Marivic’s house said a man was asking him about a certain Jun. The neighbor said he was scared of the man’s appearance – his face was covered – and hid in his house moments before hearing gunshots.