Police eye three groups possibly behind QC killing spree

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MANILA, Philippines – Local police are looking into three groups possibly connected to the “mad killers” that shot five people in Fairview, Quezon City early Sunday.

“Meron tayong tinutumbok na grupo. Ipaglagay mo ay tatlong grupo. I-zero-in na lang natin kung ano sa tatlo,” Chief Superintendent Richard Albano, director of the Quezon City Police District (QCPD) told Radyo Inquirer 990AM on Monday.

(We are looking at a group. Let’s suppose three groups. We just have to zero in on which of the three.)

Albano said they were able to gather a few details on the perpetrators, two men on a motorcycle, through the help of local residents and investigators on the ground.

However, he said they cannot release information on the suspected groups while the investigation is ongoing.

He revealed that closed-circuit television (CCTV) cameras were in the area and footages showed the two men in the act. Unfortunately, they were wearing helmets and the plate number of the motorcycle could not be discerned.

Authorities earlier reported that the killing spree started around 1:30 a.m. on Sunday and lasted for about an hour. The first victim was 34-year-old Rodelio dela Cruz who was on board his motorcycle at Commonwealth Avenue when he was shot in the head and body.  The next victim was 37-year-old businesswoman Alodia Grace Go who was shot in the neck and head just outside Fairmont Subdivision.

Gelmer Gabronino and Angelie Auguis, both 35 years old, were also on a motorycle along Regalado Avenue when they were gunned down. The last person shot dead was a still unidentified man scavenging through a garbage pile along Commonwealth Avenue.

Albano said the crime may be drug-related since there seems to be no motive in the killing of the five people who just happened to be at the area where the gunmen drove by.

“Itong mga kawawang biktima wala namang koneksyon sa iba,” he said.

(These poor victims were not connected to each other.)

For now, the police chief said they were finding ways to ensure that such a killing spree would not happen again. He said they already met with local village chiefs and QCPD unit commanders.

Albano said they even checked if police patrols were doing their job at the time of the crime.

He said the patrols were in their assigned areas and that the crime happened quite far from the nearest team.

“Pag-aaralan natin ulit kung ano pa dapat ang kailangang gawin,” he added.

(We’ll have to study again what they need to do.)

Albano called on the public to help the police if they have useful information. He said crime prevention is a “shared responsibility.”

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