1 killed, pal hurt as gunmen on bikes strike in Malabon

Onlookers are prevented from getting near the body of Manuel Cruz, victim of the Jan. 16 attack in Barangay Potrero, Malabon City. —Photo courtesy of Malabon police

A man was killed while his companion was wounded on Tuesday after they were shot by at least six men on motorcycles in Malabon City.

Police investigators said that Manuel Cruz, 59, a cockfight bet taker, died on the spot due to gunshot wounds in the head and body. Cris Villanueva was rushed to Manila Central University Hospital in Caloocan City where he remains in critical condition for a gunshot wound in the abdomen.

Both men were leaving the Del Monte cockpit arena on Del Monte Avenue in Barangay Potrero when they were shot by motorcycle-riding men, said case investigator PO2 Rockymar Binayug.

Witnesses told the police that Cruz and Villanueva had just won around P300,000 from bets. However, Binayug said no such amount was recovered from the crime scene.

Investigators said all they found were four cartridges from a .45-caliber pistol and a 9-mm firearm, and a deformed bullet from an unknown gun.

According to Binayug, the shooting was most likely drug-related as Cruz was detained during the 1990s on drug charges.

Villanueva, on the other hand, was on the Navotas police’s drug watch list.