An all-boys graduation party that dragged on till the wee hours turned into a tragedy after a barangay watchman (tanod) who complained about the noise allegedly shot one of the celebrants dead in Quezon City on Sunday.
PO3 Loreto Tigno of the Quezon City Police District homicide section identified the victim as Rizalino Hulleza Jr., 17, a resident of Saint Joseph Street, Barangay Holy Spirit.
Tigno said Hulleza was killed on the spot after being shot in the back of the head allegedly by Bernardo Ros, a member of the Barangay Public Safety Office (BPSO). Ros remained at large.
Investigators said seven to eight graduates of Commonweatlh High School were having a party in front of the house of one of the graduates when a group of watchmen that included Ros arrived.
Based on the boys’ statements, they were having a drinking spree when the watchmen approached and admonished them for being noisy at around 2 a.m.
The boys said they tried to explain to the barangay officers that it was a graduation party and that they would be winding it up soon. But the officers insisted that the boys break up immediately, until a heated exchange ensued.
It was during a commotion that the victim stood and ran away but was shot by one of the BPSO, according to a witness’s account gathered by police.
“For still unknown reasons, the BPSO pulled out his a gun and fired several shots at our friend, who was hit in the back of his head, ’’ the witness added.