By Martin Sadongdong
Four men were killed while two patrolling cops and four pedestrians were injured when a man suddenly went on a shooting rampage in Teresa, Rizal Thursday night.
Police Officer 3 Jeffrey Verano, of Teresa Municipal Police Station, identified the slain victims as Ruben Francisco, Wilfredo Lukban, and Celso Bernales Jr., who all died on the spot due to gunshot wounds in the body; and Marvin Mioten, who died while undergoing treatment at Saint Therese Hospital.
Meanwhile, wounded were PO3 Emillano Pantaleon, PO1 Eleuterio Mina, Renato Dacuya, Edrick John Borac, Joel Gasingan, and Darwin Alvarez, who were all brought to Saint Therese Hospital for immediate treatment.
PO3 Pantaleon and PO1 Mina were later transferred to the Antipolo Doctors Hospital and then to Philippine National Police General Hospital in Camp Crame, Quezon City.
Initial investigation disclosed that Francisco was just standing in front of his house in a subdivision in Barangay Bagumbayan when the suspect, identified as John Albert Araojo, suddenly shot him at close range around 6:05 p.m.
The suspect then turned to Lukban who witnessed the incident while strolling around the area, Verano said in a police report.
PO3 Pantaleon and PO1 Mina happened to be patrolling in the area when they received the alert of a shooting incident so they immediately rushed to the area.
However, the suspect also peppered the patrol mobile with bullets as it entered the gate of the subdivision.
After the incident, the suspect walked towards a tricycle terminal and carted away at gunpoint a motorcycle driven by 57-year-old Nenita Gatdula.
He then sped off towards the direction of Morong while other bystanders in the subdivision tend to the victims.
It was later discovered that several other individuals were hit by stray bullets.
Unfortunately, Bernales, a tricycle driver who was waiting for a passenger, was killed after sustaining fatal wounds to the head and body, according to a progress report from Senior Superintendent Lou Frias Evangelista, Rizal provincial police office director.
Mioten, on the other hand, was declared dead by attending physicians while undergoing treatment at 7:58 p.m.
Verano said that the motive behind the attack has yet to be determined.
Evangelista said in a statement that they have already coordinated with other municipal police stations, including one in Catanduanes where a relative of the suspect lives.
"The station already coordinated with Senior Insp. Roderick Bino, deputy chief of police of San Andres Municipal Police Station, Catanduanes for the possible whereabouts and arrest of the suspect," Evangelista said.
He revealed the suspect is a nephew of one Rudy Satairapan, barangay captain of Brgy. Agojo, San Andres, Catanduanes, and the former might seek refuge there.