3 Cavite men shot dead in birthday celebration

MANILA, Philippines - A birthday celebration turned bloody when three hooded men shot dead the celebrator, his brother and visitor and seriously wounded another visitor in Cavite last Tuesday night.

Senior Superintendent Alfred Corpus, Cavite police director, said they were still checking the backgrounds of the victims – Joel Siervo, 33; his younger brother, Jayson, 23; and Jayson Manota – to determine the motive behind their killing.

“We have not established yet the motive behind the slayings. But we are eyeing money matters as one of the angles,” Corpus said.

He said they are closely monitoring the condition of a certain Michael, who was listed in critical condition at the St. Paul Hospital. “Michael holds the key to the solution of the case,” he said.

Reports said the victims were engaged in a drinking session in the house of the elder Siervo in Paliparan 3, Dasmariñas town when the three hooded men barged in at around 9 p.m.

The group was celebrating the elder Siervo’s 33rd birthday.

While pointing their handguns at the victims, the three men repeatedly kept on asking them, “Where’s the money? Where’s the money?” They then opened fire, hitting the victims in the head.

The gunmen casually walked out of the house and escaped through an alley, witnesses said.

The Siervo brothers and Manota died on the spot. Bystanders rushed Michael to the nearest hospital after seeing him still breathing.

The gunmen did not harm the pregnant wife of the elder Siervo.

She told Corpus that the hooded men ransacked their house looking for money before leaving.

Corpus quoted Siervo’s mother as alleging that his son was involved in a string of robbery-snatching cases in the cities of Parañaque, Las Piñas, Pasay and Manila.    – With Arnell Ozaeta