4 dead in Caloocan shooting

MANILA, Philippines—A father, his two sons, and a policeman were killed, while another was injured following a midnight shooting incident in Caloocan City Wednesday, police said.

Chief Inspector Rodrigo Soriano identified the fatalities as Manolito Piccio, 56; his children Erickson, 37; and Audie, 32; and Police Officer 3 Ernesto Castillo.

Soriano said Manolito and his two sons were having a drinking session along Rose Street, King Solomon, Camarin, Barangay (village) 174 in Caloocan City, when Castillo, along with another unidentified suspect fired shots at the family, causing the instantaneous death of Manolito.

Soriano quoted injured witness James Palunday as saying that Audie was still able to wrestle the firearm of Castillo despite his injuries, and eventually hit Castillo.

Audie was declared dead on arrival at the Bernardino Hospital in Quezon City, while Erickson was rushed to Dr. Jose Rodriguez Hospital in Tala, Caloocan, but succumbed to injuries around 1:45 a.m.

Castillo, who sustained multiple gunshots in his body and an embedded arrow at the right side of the neck, was identified through an ID.

Recovered from the crime scene were two hand grenades, a magazine loaded with seven rounds of live ammunition for a caliber .45 pistol, three deformed bullets, five empty shells for a 12 gauge shotgun, 18 fired cartridge cases of an undetermined caliber of firearm, two live ammunition for a 12 gauge shotgun, one steel bar, and two improvised arrows.

The information of the other suspect, as well as the motive behind the attack, was not immediately available.