2 teenagers arrested after deadly gang brawl in Quezon City
MANILA, Philippines—A 13-year-old boy and an older companion have been arrested for involvement in a street brawl between rival gangs in Quezon City in which a bystander was killed and another wounded when a gang member fired a homemade gun, the authorities said Saturday.
Cristobal Martinez, 18, now faces charges of homicide, attempted homicide and physical injuries while his younger accomplice was turned over to social workers. Martinez’s brother, Arjay, the alleged gun wielder remains at large along with one Angelica Marquez.
Assistant City Prosecutor Conrado Rosario recommended charges of homicide, attempted homicide, and physical injuries against Martinez but said further investigation was necessary his brother and Marquez were still at large.
Police investigator PO3 Jamie de Jesus said the brawl occurred between two rival youth groups on Agno Street in Barangay Tatalon late Thursday night.
Killed in the shooting was Christian Irac, 20, a bystander and local resident. Another resident, Domingo Fernandez, 21, was also hit by a bullet.
Irac died around 1:45 a.m. Friday while being treated at the Delos Santos Medical Center while Fernandez was discharged from the hospital, the investigator said.
He said that prior to the brawl, Marquez and two others were riding a motorcycle and nearly sideswiped the rival group of Jennica Abas.
Around 11 p.m. Thursday, a barangay watchman saw Marquez and her companions return to the area and met with the Martinez brothers and the 13-year-old boy whose identity the police withheld as mandated by law.
De Jesus said the youths charged at Abas’ group, which was hanging around the same street, and one of them allegedly tried to stab Abas but missed although she sustai9ned some minor scrapes and bruises.
Amember of a neighborhood watch, Manuel Ledesma, saw the commotion and confiscated the fan knife from Marquez.
Irked, Arjay fired his homemade gun and hit hit Irac and Fernandez, both of whom just happened to be in the area.
After the brawl, the youths scampered away. Cristobal Martinez and the 13-year-old boy were arrested the following morning when policemen went back to the place with Abas and Ledesma to conduct follow-up operations.
