Man massacres family over 'pulutan'

MANILA, Philippines - A man went on a shooting rampage that claimed the lives of his wife, mother-in-law and sister-in-law in Tondo, Manila Tuesday night after his wife failed to bring him “pulutan,” finger food usually served with alcoholic beverages.

Ronald Cruz, 37, who works as a messenger for the Philippine Reclamation Authority, surrendered to Moriones police station chief Superintendent Jemar Modequillo yesterday afternoon, hours after the killings.

He said he loved his wife and is asking for forgiveness from his victims’ relatives.

Senior Police Officer 1 Gerry Rivera said that at around 7:30 p.m., Cruz came home and confronted his wife, Gina, 36, for refusing to bring him pulutan while he was drinking with his buddies outside the house. Their eldest child, 18-year-old Ralph, tried to intervene but his father turned on him and beat him up.

The commotion was overheard by Cruz’s mother-in-law, Senecia Valencia, 60, and her daughter, Loreta Venturina, 40. The two women, who lived next door, tried to pacify the enraged suspect. Cruz went to the kitchen, took his .9mm pistol, and shot his wife in the forehead in front of his in-laws and his three children. The two younger children are aged 10 and 8.

He then shot at his in-laws as well as Venturina’s fiancée, American serviceman John Walker, 44.

After the shooting, Cruz left their house on Masinop Street, bringing his gun with him. Police recovered four spent .9mm shells at the scene.

Cruz’s mother-in-law died on the spot while his wife and sister-in-law died at the emergency room of the Mary Johnston Hospital. Walker is confined at the same hospital for a bullet wound in the chin.

Rivera said the American serviceman would execute his affidavit on the shooting once his condition stabilizes.