16-year-old boy mauls, kills vendor over debt

A 16-year-old boy was arrested on Friday in Quezon City in connection with the mauling and subsequent death of a man whom he owed money.

The teenage suspect has been turned over to the Department of Social Welfare and Development following his arrest.

Case investigator PO3 Roland Belgica said the boy was identified as the one who allegedly mauled  vendor Ruben Rodajos, 36, who eventually died from his injuries.

Bodajos suddenly suffered a seizure and was rushed by his friends to the Quirino Memorial Medical Center where he expired at around 9:30 p.m. on Friday.

The victim was allegedly mauled at around 3:10 p.m. that day in front of the Reget Internet café located at 79-C Montreal St. in Barangay E. Rodriguez.

Police learned that the boy owed the vendor an undetermined amount of money.

Bodajos was, however, tipsy at that time and demanded that the suspect pay him back.

This led to a fistfight between the two men during which Bodajos fell and hit his head on the pavement.

The victim’s friends helped him get up and brought him to the Alta Theater on Aurora Boulevard where he was temporarily staying, but Bodajos began vomiting at around 6:30 p.m.

The victim went to sleep but suffered a seizure because of his injuries, police added.