MANILA, Philippines–Two men died while three of their friends were wounded after “Bin Laden” opened fire on the group during a drinking spree shortly after midnight Sunday in Pasig City.
Joey Velbis and Roy Ramirez died after they were shot in the head by the man identified only as Bin Laden. As of 2:30 p.m. Monday, their friend Joseph Presimo, who was also hit in the head, remained in critical condition at Rizal Medical Center. On the other hand, Noli Garde and Teloises Perez were reported to be in stable condition at Pasig City General Hospital.
According to the police, the victims were drinking at a covered court in Ramos Compound, Eastbank Road in Barangay (village) Rosario around 12:10 a.m. Sunday when the shooter arrived and opened fire on them. Authorities said that the incident may have been a retaliatory attack by the suspect since the area is home to many individuals fond of playing pranks on other people.
However, PO3 Melvin Jesus Mendoza said that they were not discounting the drug angle since the suspect was believed to be involved in drug pushing. Mendoza said a witness had told them that after the shooting, Bin Laden casually walked toward his car and sped off toward Amang Rodriguez Avenue.
The witness, however, did not get the full license plate of the Toyota Corolla and could not tell if the vehicle was blue or green because it was parked in a dimly-lit corner. Mendoza said that they recovered from the crime scene three casings and a slug, possibly from a 9-mm pistol.–Jovic Yee