6 slain ‘Waray-Waray’ gang members identified

MANILA, Philippines - The Manila Police District (MPD) on Sunday identified the six alleged members of the "Waray-Waray" gang who were killed in a shootout with lawmen on Delpan Bridge in Tondo, Manila last April 23. Two civilians were also killed in the gunbattle. Chief Inspector Dominador Arevalo, chief of the MPD homicide section, identified the six as Mario Fabillar, 28, a resident of Building 28, Unit 21, Permanent Housing, Balut, Tondo, Manila; Rudy Singre, 33, laborer, of 59 Davila St., Navotas West, Navotas City; Jonar Montilla, 27, scavenger, of Building 21 Unit 223, Permanent Housing, Balut, Tondo; Rodolfo Jamer, 37, laborer, of Building 5 Unit 515, Permanent Housing, Balut, Tondo; Abriel Luciano, 28, of Building 24, Unit 402 Paradise Height, Tondo; and Romeo Luciano, 44, of 8 Taganahan St., Bagong Bayan, Navotas City. Police said Fabillar was found in possession of Magnum 357, Singre yielded a .9mm pistol, Montilla had a .38 caliber revolver, Jamer .45 caliber pistol, Luciano had a grenade and Luciano had an M21 Thompson. Police said the shootout on Wednesday, one of the bloodiest in Manila in recent years, erupted after the gunmen fired at officers who tried to stop their van at a police checkpoint near the bridge. Manila police chief Roberto Rosales first reported that four suspected robbery gang members were killed on the spot and three others died in the hospital. However, Metropolitan Manila police chief Geary Barias said Thursday that he was informed that two civilians were among those killed and ordered an investigation. The two men - Rosales said Rolando Natividad of Asia Brewery and Victor Constantino - were inside their car when the gunmen allegedly tried to commandeer it in the middle of the shootout with police. They got out when they were hit by bullets, police said. Another police officer, Superintendent Mario Espino, said the suspects, some of them suspected in other robberies, were allegedly on the way to strike again when they were intercepted. The MPD had apologized to the families of the two slain civilians. - GMANews.TV