1 dead, 6 hurt in birthday shooting

MANILA, Philippines - A teenager was killed and six others were wounded when four unidentified men shot at guests at a birthday party in Navotas City Wednesday night.

The four men staged the attack after arriving on two motorcycles at the party in Barangay North Bay Boulevard South (NBBS) at around 10 p.m.

Reniel Ramirez was declared dead on arrival at the Tondo General Hospital.

Police officers identified the wounded as Francisco Nebato, 36; James Dagatona, 28; Johnny Capulan, 36; Samuel Polo, 32; Cecilia Lagrosa; and Gino Tejuco, 18.

An eyewitness said one of the gunmen reloaded his gun and continued shooting at Ramirez even if the victim was lying on the pavement. The attackers then fled toward Malabon.

Crime scene investigators recovered 35 shells from an M-16 rifle, a carbine and a .45 caliber pistol and a magazine from an M-16 rifle.

Some residents believe the attack could be related to the Oct. 28 barangay elections.

A source told The STAR Ramirez was a supporter of a candidate.

A 20-year-old niece of a candidate for chairman of Barangay NBBS was killed on Oct. 24.

Rachelle Legaspi and several supporters of her uncle, Totong Legaspi, were drinking in front of their house – which also served as her uncle’s political headquarters – along M. Naval street when two men on a motorcycle arrived and started shooting at them just before 10 p.m., according to police.

The gunmen missed Totong by a few minutes since the businessman went into the house before the attack.

Barangay NBBS is among the areas included in the National Capital Region Police Office’s election watchlist.