5 hurt as men throw bottles in Tondo riot

Five residents were hurt after a misunderstanding caused a rider to return with a group of men who threw empty glass bottles amid celebration of the Feast of the Sto Niño over the weekend.

According to Darlene Cay’s report on “24 Oras,” the group were caught on CCTV footage throwing the bottles at residents of Barangay 38 at around 11 p.m. on Sunday, January 21.  

“’Yung isang kasama namin ay lasing na kasi tumumba, yung babae. Ginilid lang po namin. Pinapauwi namin. Sabi ko, ‘umuwi ka na! lasing ka na’,” said Michelle Baron, one of the injured residents, said. 

(One of our friends was drunk so we told her she should head home.)

“Sakto, dumaan po yung nakamotor, ‘yun pong dayo, may angkas na babae. Ini-stop pa po nila ang motor nila sa kanto. Ang salita niya, bumalik. Sabi, ‘sinong minura niyo? Sinong pinapauwi niyo?’ Sabi ko, teka lang walang nagpapauwi sa inyo di namin kayo kilala,” she added.

(A rider passed by but stopped when he heard us. He asked us if we are telling him to go home. We told him no because we don’t know who he is.)

Michelle said the rider and his female companion left but he returned with the group of men. 

“Pinagbabanatan niya ang kapatid kong babae. Tumumba na kami sa tindahan. gumitna na ako,” she said. 

(He threatened my sister. I stopped them immediately.)

“Nanghamon po talaga noong time na nangbato na po sila, syempre umawat na po lahat. Ang problema, may kasama. Nagpaulan na po sila ng bote. Ang daming inosenteng nadamay,” she added. 

(They were threatening us. Of course, our neighbors tried to stop the commotion but he was with a group of men. They threw bottles at us. Many innocent people got hurt because of what happened.)

Around five residents sustained head injuries. 

Barangay officials responded to the area but the alleged assailants left. 

Authorities said they are investigating the incident. —Sundy Locus/NB, GMA Integrated News