Gang war eyed as motive in killing of 2 teenagers

INVESTIGATORS are looking at a gang war as the possible motive behind the brutal killing of two teenagers in Tondo, Manila.

One of the teenagers, Chormel Buenaflor, had a Batang City Jail tattoo.

The bodies of Buenaflor and Carl Justine Banogon, both 15, were found in a body bag floating in the waters off Islang Puting Bato in Tondo on February 8, 2021, about a week after they were reported missing on January 31.

Their heads, hands and legs were bound with masking tape. Their bodies bore multiple stab wounds and their throats were slit.

Buenaflor’s body was also marked with a smiley, which was believed to have been etched using an ice pick.

Manila Police District (MPD) Homicide Division chief Henry Navarro said they were conducting background investigation on the victims.

Batang City Jail is a prison gang. Like members of other prison gangs, Batang City Jail members are marked with a tattoo.

MPD Director Leo Francisco said neighbors related having seen the two boys in the area on January 31.

Francisco said the victims may have been abducted on the same day, although not at the same time.

The Commission on Human Rights said it will conduct an investigation on the killings. (Third Anne Peralta-Malonzo / SunStar Philippines)