Student dies after being attacked, hit with hollow blocks in Tondo

A criminology student died after he was attacked and ganged up on by at least ten suspects in Tondo, Manila.

CCTV footage showed the suspects mobbing and brutally hitting victim Randall Bonifacio with hollow blocks outside a bar, Marisol Abdurahmann reported on “24 Oras” Monday.

“Pauwi na sila nung inikutan sila ng mga kalalakihan,” said Manila Police District Homicide Section Chief Captain Dennis Turla.

(They were on their way home when the suspects surrounded them.)

“Apat dito sa hindi bababa sa sampung suspek natin ay walang sabi-sabi pinaghahampas sa mukha ng hollow blocks itong biktima. Pauli-ulit daw sabi ng ating mga witnesses,” Turla added.

(Four of the ten suspects hit the victim with hollow blocks on his face. They did it repeatedly.)

Bonifacio was rushed to hospital where he passed away.

“Basag na basag po yung mukha, halos hindi po makilala. Kulay itim po yung ganito, nakasarado yung mata. 'Yung bigla na lang po siyang gagalaw, nagwawala siya, nagaganun siya,” Amelia Bonifacio, the victim’s mother, said.

(He was so severely injured in the face I almost did not recognize him. His eyes were shut. Sometimes, he moves and flies into a rage.)

According to the witnesses, the incident happened after Bonifacio bumped into a man while they were hanging out in the area.

“Pauwi na kami nun tapos may padaan-daan na lalaki. Nung huling daan niya po nagka-banggaan sila,” a witness said.

(We were on our way home when a man was walking into our path repeatedly. He bumped into that man.)

“Humingi na rin kami ng pasensya. Akala po namin okay na. Mga dalawang minuto lang po lumabas po uli siya may mga kasama na po. Dun na nila sinugod si Randall. Pinagsusuntok nila, una. Binabato na po nila nang kung ano-ano pong itong sina Randall. Mga bato, dustpan,” she added.

(We apologized, so we thought it was settled. But in no more than two minutes, the man returned with other people. They ganged up on him and hit him. They also threw things like stones and a dustpan.)

Police said murder charges would be filed against the suspects. They have identified some of them but declined to provide identities while the follow-up operation was still ongoing. — Sundy Locus/DVM, GMA Integrated News