4 killed, 5 hurt in Rizal shooting

MANILA, Philippines — Four people were killed while five others, including two police officers, were injured in a shooting incident in Teresa, Rizal on Thursday night.

A report from the Rizal Provincial Police Office on Friday said victim Ruben Francisco was in front of his house when he was suddenly shot by a certain John Albert Araojo.

Araojo then shot Wilfredo Lukban, who was in the vicinity, and another Celso Bernales Jr., a tricycle driver waiting for passengers during the incident, police said.

The three victims died on the spot, Sr. Insp. Marinell Fronda, chief of Teresa Municipal Police Station, told INQUIRER.net.

Police said PO3 Emillano Pantaleon and PO1 Eleuterio Mina rushed to the scene but were also fired at by the suspect. The suspect then wounded three others, police said, and a certain Marvin Mioten, who later died in a hospital.

The two wounded police officers, authorities said, still managed to return fire but Araojo was able to escape towards the municipality of Morong aboard his motorcycle.

A hunt for Araojo has been launched by police for his arrest.

Police added that checkpoints were also set up by the Tanay and Morong Municipal Police Stations to catch the suspect.

The victims, meanwhile, were rushed to Saint Therese Hospital for emergency treatment.

Police have yet to establish a motive behind the shooting, Fronda said. /muf/kga