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Tuesday, May 20, 2008
8 killed, 6 hurt in Laguna shooting
MANILA -- Eight people were killed while six others were injured when a man went on a shooting spree Monday in Calamba City, Laguna.
Police identified the fatalities as seven-year-olds Gladys and Gladyn Balisong; four-year-old Julian, nine-year-old Sarah, 12-year-old Maryjane, all surnamed Pili; Dennis Balisong, 29; Gerry Pili, 49; and Gloria Pili, 39.
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Wounded were Marina Balisong, 31; five-year-old Denmark Balisong; Aurelio Abanilla, 52; Vicente Redondo, 42; Cherry May Pili, 17; and eight-year-old Erika Pili.
Chief Superintendent Ricardo Padilla identified the suspect as Adan Defiesta, caretaker of a vegetable farm in Calamba who allegedly stole the rifle and eight magazines of ammunition from the owner, a retired policeman.
Padilla said a witness told investigators he prevailed upon Defiesta not to kill him. The same witness quoted Defiesta as saying "he was upset that people in the town were making fun of him."
It wasn't clear who or what provoked him, said Padilla.
According to Padilla, police launched a massive manhunt for Defiesta.
Reports reaching Camp Crame said the perpetrator opened-fire at the victims' residences in Barangay Hornalan in the town at 12:15 a.m. Monday "with the use of a long firearm."
The Philippine National Police (PNP) Scene of the Crime Office conducted crime scene investigation and recovered shells for M16 armalite rifles.
Investigators are eyeing "standing vendetta" as the possible motive of the incident, but they did not elaborate.
"Hot pursuit operation is being conducted, led by Director Padilla himself, directing chokepoint operation on possible and adjacent routes of withdrawal or passage," the report said.
"Continuous follow-up investigation is being undertaken by Calamba City policemen," it added.
The killings came three days after robbers barged into a bank in the same province on Friday and shot dead 10 people in the head, triggering nationwide outrage. (VR/AP/Sunnex)
For more Philippine news, visit Sun.Star Baguio. (May 20, 2008 issue)
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