Metrobriefs

Man killed, his brother wounded by neighbor

Peace on earth and goodwill to all men were decidedly missing a day before Christmas at a brawl that occurred in Tondo Saturday before dawn. The fight resulted in the death of Gary Pontanares, 33, of Area-A, Parola, and injury to his brother, Anthony. Police Officer 2 Jose Gumilan of the Manila Police District Homicide section said the two brothers got into a fight with their neighbor Leonardo Postrano, 47, when they tried to help another brother, Alvin, who had earlier gotten into an argument with Postrano. Investigation revealed that Postrano had slapped Alvin during that argument and the latter called on his brothers for help. Upon arrival at the scene, Gary reportedly punched Postrano, who then retaliated by pulling out a knife and stabbing the former on his upper arm and his left torso near the armpit, where the knife remained embedded. Postrano then went back to his house to get another knife, stabbing Anthony on his left neck with it.  The wounded Pontanares brothers were rushed to the Gat Andres Bonifacio hospital by another brother, Angelo, but it was too late for Gary. He was pronounced dead on arrival with the knife still stuck in his torso. Anthony is still undergoing treatment at the hospital. The police have tried to nab Postrano at his home but he had already fled. A manhunt is on and the case has been placed under investigation.—Jaymee T. Gamil

Condo unit owner loses P200,000 to ‘visitors’

A man lost around P200,000 in cash and valuables to thieves who broke into his unit after posing as visitors of a condominium in Quezon City. The burglary happened on Thursday at a condominium on Esteban Abada St. in Barangay (village) Loyola Heights. Case investigator Police Officer 2 Michael Tan said the complainant, Dominic Gabriel, 21, lost gadgets, belongings and other valuables. The thieves apparently posed as visitors at the condominium in order to break into the victim’s unit on the ninth floor. The complainant recalled that he left home at around noon Thursday and locked his room, but found it open and unlocked when he returned around 8:15 that evening. Police said the door appeared to have been forced open and the room was in disarray. Gabriel lost a MacBook laptop worth P60,000; an iPod, P30,000; Movado watch, P50,000; Tag Heuer watch, P50,000; a chronograph watch, P10,000; a DKNY watch, P8,000; and P2,000 in cash. The guard on duty at the time recalled that the suspects, a man and a woman, introduced themselves as guests of a tenant, and the pair later left with a sling bag and boarded a gray Mitsubishi Adventure.—Julie M. Aurelio

Mechanic gunned down during drinking spree

A 34-year-old mechanic was gunned down in the middle of a drinking spree near his home in Marikina City on Friday night. The victim, identified as Ingracio Madredano, a driver and a mechanic residing at Doña Petra street in Barangay (village) Tumana, Marikina City, was drinking alcohol with his friends in front of his home when he was shot in the head around 7:45 p.m. According to the police’s initial investigation, two men on a motorcycle suddenly appeared from nowhere and stopped at the flock of men. One of the motorcycle riders alighted from the vehicle and without a word shot the victim from behind, hitting him in the back of his head. Afterward, the gunman boarded the waiting motorcycle and sped off to an unknown direction. A spent shell of .45-cal. pistol was recovered from the scene by members of the Scene of the Crime Operatives who would examine the evidence. Police Officer 1 Edgar Blancaflor of the Eastern Police District said the police have yet to determine the motive in the killing.—Niña Calleja

Jose Abad Santos High School Class ’62 reunion

Everything is set for the golden alumni homecoming of Class ’62 graduates of Jose Abad Santos High School (Public) of Binondo, Manila, on Jan. 11-13, 2012. More than 100 alumni from Metro Manila, various provinces in the country, United States, Canada, Europe, Middle East, etc., have already signed up to attend the three-day reunion. A welcome lunch for balikbayan and local classmates is scheduled on January 11 at PLDT PR consultant Horace Lavides’ garden at Blk. 3, Lot 24, Capitoline Hills, BF Resort Village, Las Piñas City. An out-of-town picnic will follow on January 12 and a dinner-dance at Shangri-la Hotel, Makati, will cap the reunion activities. For more details, class ’62 alumni may call any of the following:  Bituin Tuazon-Betco, 470-4603; Amelia Peleo-Francisco, 448-0530; Remedios Ramos-Casas, 806-9558; Tessie Alensuela-Cledera, 571-0948; or Roger Sarmiento, 935-5299.