2, including tanod, shot dead in altercation over videoke in QC

A barangay tanod and a resident were killed in Quezon City on Tuesday night in a shooting rooted in an fight over a videoke session.

According to Jun Veneracion's report on "24 Oras," the shooting happened after tanods in Barangay Sauyo called out some residents who were singing videoke.

The revelers refused to be dissuaded by the officials, which resulted in a heated altercation. A video shows nearby people crying out and running away as shots could be heard.

The two suspects, who fled on a motorcycle, were arrested at a hotel in Barangay Payatas on Wednesday night. Two guns and ammunition were in their possession. 

The partner of one of the suspects was also arrested for helping them hide. 

Records showed that the suspects had earlier been charged with murder and homicide in Regions 1 and 3.

“This duo is considered as very dangerous persons. Good things hindi sila binitiwan ng ating operatiba, hindi kami tumigil, nagpuyat kami rito,” said QCPD Director Police Brigadier General Redrico Maranan. 

(This duo are considered a very dangerous persons. Good thing our operatives didn't let up; we didn't stop and stayed up late for this.)

One of those killed was Cornelio Nuval Jr., a barangay official. He was hit by a bullet in the back which penetrated the lung. 

“Sobrang bait po ng tatay namin, wala pong record na hindi maganda. Tinanggalan n'ya po kami ng haligi ng tahanan,” said Nuval’s daughter. 

(Our father was a very kind person. He didn't have a record that wasn't good. They took away the pillar of our household.)

One of the suspects refused to comment, while the other denied that he shot them but admitted that he had a grudge against the officials.

“Away-kalye lang po sir dahil kasi yung barangay doon biased po kasi sir. Kami pagsinisita sa videoke pinapatay agaran kahit may kumakanta. Pag sa iba hindi nila masita-sita,” said the other suspect. 

(It was just a street fight sir, because the barangay there is biased. They tell us off for videoke and shut it down even while someone is still singing. They don't even scold other people.)

A barangay official denied that they would shut off the videoke.

Based on QCPD's investigation, the suspects are said to be guns for hire, and if they were not arrested, they might have been used in illegal activities in the upcoming elections.

"We would like to assume that their presence here in Quezon City has something to do with their activities, tinitignan natin kung sila ba ay may target dito [we're checking if they have a target here]," said Maranan. — Sherylin Untalan/BM, GMA Integrated News