QC gunman waited patiently for his kill

MANILA, Philippines—His killer waited patiently in the shadows.

A 37-year-old house painter was shot dead early Sunday morning in Barangay Holy Spirit, Quezon City, by an assailant who was earlier seen lingering in his neighborhood for about an hour before closing in for the kill.

Michael Bersamin, a resident of Don Sergio Extension, had just joined friends in a roadside drinking session when the gunman approached and shot him twice in the head point-blank. His neighbor, Renato Calanao, was also shot in the thigh as he ran for cover.

The shooter was also apparently in no hurry when he left, casually walking away before driving off on a motorcycle, witnesses told police.

The incident happened around 1:30 a.m. on Don Sergio Extension, not far from the victim’s residence, said PO2 Louie Serbito of the Quezon City Police District.

Minutes before the shooting, Calanao and several other neighbors were having a drink when they noticed a man nearby, standing in a dimly lit part of the street. About an hour later, Calanao decided to approach the man and asked what he was up to—just as Bersamin arrived to join the group.

The man suddenly left Calanao’s side, approached Bersamin and shot the latter with a .45-cal. pistol.-Jeannette I. Andrade