Man slain by bike-riding companions in Manila

MANILA, Philippines—A man was shot dead by one of his three motorcycle-riding companions just as he returned from buying food from an eatery in Quiapo, Manila early Monday morning.

SPO2 Milbert Balinggan, of the Manila Police District Homicide Section, described the still unidentified victim to be between 30 and 35 years old, five-foot-five inches tall, fair-skinned, of medium build and wearing a white shirt and blue corduroy shorts.

The victim died instantly of a bullet wound to the head.

Balinggan said the killing occurred at the corner of Arlegui and Gunao Streets in Quiapo at around 3 a.m., shortly after the man bought a serving of pater (a Muslim beef dish) from the eatery.

He said that before the incident, the man had been a passenger on one of two motorcycles with three other men who had stopped at the street corner.

The man alighted and asked a waitress at the Farouk Shariff Eatery if they had pater. When the waitress said they did not, he crossed the street to the Empire Store, where he was able to buy the dish.

Balinggan theorized that the man had just returned to his waiting companions when one of them pulled out a gun and shot him in the left temple.

The assailants then fled on their motorcycles, leaving the victim lying bloodied on the pavement, he said.

The body was brought to the St. Yvan funeral parlor in Malate for autopsy and safekeeping.