MANILA, Philippines – A 34-year-old commercial pilot was mauled to death yesterday morning by seven men during a brawl near the Embassy Bar in Fort Bonifacio, Taguig City.
The suspects and two women companions were immediately arrested by the police and may be charged with homicide and physical injuries.
The fatality, Carlo Jose Castellano, reportedly a part-time pilot, was not the target of the suspects who were allegedly after his friend Zedrick Ponce.
A resident of Bonifacio Heights in Fort Bonifacio, Castellano is reportedly the son of a retired general.
Ponce, 34, survived the attack. Castellano was pronounced dead on arrival at 5:32 a.m. at the Makati Medical Center.
The suspects were arrested by police stationed at the Embassy Bar and a nearby precinct.
Chief Insp. Celso Rodriguez of the criminal investigation section identified the suspects as Edmer Antonin, 22, of Pasay City; and Edmund Quirante, 25; Rolly Quirante, 37; Marvin Matias, 28; Wilfred Quirante, 23; Julius Quirante, 20; Joseph Quirante, 26, all from Quezon City.
The women, who were with the men aboard a silver Mitsubishi Adventure (ZEE 715), were identified as Michelle Quirante, 27, and Rowena Sitchon, 20, from Quezon City.
Rodriguez said Castellano flew for international airlines and was a graduate of Class 1995 of the Philippine Military Academy.
“Ume-extra siya sa mga airline. He was not working for a specific airline company,” he said.
An initial investigation by SPO2 Gracio Cangco showed that Castellano and Ponce had just left the bar around 4:45 a.m. and were walking towards the parking lot when the suspects’ van stopped in front of the victims. The suspects then accosted the victims.
Rodriguez said Ponce could have irked the suspects when he accidentally bumped them at the rest room of the Embassy Bar.
The seven men allegedly took turns hitting Castellano and Ponce, who had several bruises, cuts and contusions in different parts of the body. He was later brought to the Rizal Medical Center. Rodriguez said the women stayed inside the car during the incident.
Policemen at the Embassy Bar blocked the suspects’ vehicle, preventing their escape.
Mayor Freddie Tińga condemned the mauling incident and warned outsiders against disrupting the peace in the city.
“We strongly condemn this brutal killing,” he said. “To think that the suspects are not even residents of our city. We warn them not to mess with our city or (they will) face dire consequences.”
The mayor lauded the police for the immediate arrest of the suspects. He said some of the suspects were reportedly balikbayan (returning residents) who were in the country for the holidays.
Meanwhile, the city government will discuss additional security measures with officials of the Bonifacio Estate Services Corporation to avoid similar incidents in the future.
The Taguig City Police helps security forces man Fort Bonifacio Global City.
