Charges have been filed against one of the two motorcycle-riding suspects in Sunday’s shooting spree in Fairview, Quezon City.
Alsaid Mindalano underwent inquest proceedings for four counts of murder on Wednesday night, three days after five people were shot dead on a 300-meter-long stretch between Commonwealth and Regalado Avenues within an hour.
The people, however, did not include in the complaint the fifth victim, a garbage scavenger who has yet to be identified, as he was shot with a .45-cal. pistol. The four others were killed by someone wielding a 9mm firearm.
Inquest Prosecutor Don Ace Mariano Alagar indicted the 28-year-old Mindalano who was positively identified by a witness as the driver of the motorcycle used in the killing spree.
Chief Insp. Rodelio Marcelo, head of the Quezon City Police District’s Criminal Investigation and Detection Unit, said that Alagar did not recommend any bail for the suspect since murder is a nonbailable offense.
The four counts of murder against the alleged gunman, Mohammad “Walad” Sandigan, were set for further investigation since he has yet to be arrested.
The families of three of the victims— Gelmer Gabronimo, Angelie Auguis and Rodelio dela Cruz—personally appeared as complainants during the inquest proceedings while the fourth victim, Alodia Grace Go, was represented by the police investigator.
Mindalano was arrested on Tuesday afternoon with five other men, including a 16-year-old boy, at the last known address of Sandigan in Fairmont Subdivision, Barangay North Fairview.
Of the five, two were eventually released. These were the 16-year-old boy and Cesar Ate after the police determined that he was not a cohort of Mindalano.
However, the rest of the group—Bochary Mindalano, Anmad Madkadato and Mangontawar Monib—were charged along with Alsaid Mindalano with illegal possession of firearms, ammunition and explosives after a 9mm pistol, two revolvers and two grenades were seized from them.
A complaint of drug possession was also filed against the five who all tested positive for drug use.