Gun-toting teens tagged in 4 murders

MANILA, Philippines - Four teenagers arrested by the Quezon City Police District (QCPD) for wielding high-powered firearms are members of the Temple Street Trece (TST) gang, tagged in at least four killings earlier this year, a police official said yesterday.

Chief Inspector Rodel Marcelo, QCPD Criminal Investigation and Detection Unit head, said two of the teenage males are facing murder charges before the Quezon City prosecutor’s office for the killing of Lobreo Ymata on April 23 and the murders of Napoleon Aquino, Edwin Tating and lawyer Rizal Cimatu last Sept. 4. Police are verifying the age of the suspects.

“We are conducting further investigation to determine if the gang members were also involve in other killings, particularly at Barangay Holy Spirit,” he said.

The four males were arrested shortly after midnight Thursday for indiscriminate firing. Police seized an Uzi and Ingram machine pistols, a .40 caliber pistol and a .38 caliber revol­ver from the suspects, who underwent inquest proceedings Thursday night and are detained at the Batasan police station.

Marcelo said they are coordinating with the police station to check if the firearms had been used in other crimes in the city.

He said the TST has about 20 members in Barangay Holy Spirit, where the suspects were arrested.

In September 2010, a 15-year-old high school student killed Teodora Soner, a teacher at the Manuel L. Quezon High School in Caloocan City, reportedly as part of an initiation rite into the gang.

A police officer, who requested anonymity, said TST recruits minors – who are protected by the juvenile justice law – from public schools in northern Metro Manila. “Once they stab their victim in the back, the (attacker) becomes a member,” he said.