1 killed as mob attacks workers at New Year's party

MANILA, Philippines - A man who allegedly led a mob of about 20 residents was shot dead by a businesswoman they attacked at the height of a party at past midnight on New Year’s Day in Caloocan City.

Senior Superintendent Jude Wilson Santos, city police chief, said the bullet hit the chin of Jovert Saluday, 21, and went out the back of his head. Saluday, a resident of Phase 3 in Dagat-Dagatan, died while being taken to the Diosdado Macapagal Memorial Medical Center.

The woman Saluday allegedly attacked, Vanessa Donato, 28, was jailed after the shooting. She works as a sales manager of Best Choice Enterprises, an ink refilling station on Plapla street in Kaunlaran Village, Dagat-Dagatan, Caloocan City,

Also detained at the Caloocan City police jail were Donato’s partner, Michael Jaleco, 20; Jaleco’s cousins, Jerry Anorico, 29; Gilbert Ucayan, 31; Edward Villeganio, 18; and Ma. Luisa de Luna, all of Dagat-Dagatan.

According to the police, Donato and her colleagues were having a New Year’s Day party at their office when Saluday and his companions attacked them at around 1:30 a.m. after the two groups had an argument.

Donato said some people from Saluday’s group, who were drinking liquor a few meters from the ink refill station, threw firecrackers in their office.

Donato said she fired at Saluday because he was attacking her. She surrendered to responding policemen, led by PO2 Rodolfo Caravana, from the Northern Police District Mobile Force.

A duly licensed 9mm pistol and a magazine loaded with 15 bullets were confiscated from her as evidence.

Donato, who sustained several “defense cuts” on the left arm from a bladed weapon, said she is optimistic the case would be resolved in her favor.

One of Donato’s business partners, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said certain barangay officials were related to Saluday. This explains why Donato and her colleagues, not the ones who attacked them, are in jail, the partner said.

Donato told The STAR that although she was a resident of Manila, she put up her business in Dagat-Dagatan to help the women there. She said four of her 10 workers are women residing in the area.

Police sources said the area where the shooting took place is located near the Caloocan-Malabon boundary and is notorious for many unreported crimes, especially robbery and rape.