Reward put up for info on suspects in lynching

A P100,000 reward is being offered for information that will lead to the arrest of other suspects in the violent killing of an 18-year-old boy.

 

Fernando Mendoza Jr. was shot with a homemade shotgun and beaten with broken bottles in front of a hospital in Manila just a few hours into the New Year.

 

The reward was offered by Manila Vice Mayor Isko Moreno, who strongly supports the city curfew for minors.

 

"Kaya sa Manila may curfew eh, for the simple reason na ‘yung mga bata na menor de edad hindi talaga dapat lumalabas ng alanganing oras. Dalawang bagay lang: it's either kayo makamatay o kaya mapatay," said Vice Mayor Isko Moreno, who raised the reward.

 

Mendoza was not a minor, but Moreno says it is violent situations like this that the curfew aims to prevent from happening.

 

In defense of co-passenger?

 

An earlier report said Mendoza became a victim of lynching after he rose to the defense of a gay co-passenger in a jeep.

 

In a report on “24 Oras” aired Monday, Mendoza’s cousin said the victim just retaliated when someone boxed him.

 

“Sabi ng bakla, ‘Huwag niyo kaming anuhin, kasi mabait kami.’ Tapos sabi ng pinsan ko, ‘Eh huwag niyo na nga anuhin, kasi mabait nga sila.’ Bigla niya pong sinuntok ‘yung pinsan ko, tapos gumanti po ‘yung pinsan ko isang beses. Tapos nag-away na po sa loob ng jeep," said Mendoza's cousin. 

 

But GMA News reporter Emil Sumangil said reports from the police showed otherwise.

 

According to reports, the jeep was along Rizal Avenue when a group of gay passengers got on the jeep. When Mendoza Jr. started taunting them, they called for backup from one of their fathers and his friends, who were having a drinking session nearby.

 

The cousin said she as well as her other companions were also hurt in the encounter. "May sumisigaw pong ano, ‘Lagay sa gitna.’ ‘Di nilagay po kami, papasagasaan daw po kami," she said. 

 

"Ayun nga po, sabi po namin tama na. Tapos ‘yun, ayaw pa rin kaming tigilan. Ako po pinagsusuntok, tadyak," said the cousin.

 

"Sabi patayin na daw. 'Patayin niyo na ‘yan, patayin niyo na,'" said Mendoza's girlfriend, who was also there.

 

Outnumbered, Mendoza jumped off the jeep and a chase ensued along crowded Rizal Avenue (Avenida), before he stumbled in the middle of the street in front of Jose R. Reyes Memorial Medical Center. 

 

That was where the GMA News team caught on video youths lynching Mendoza, and one of them firing an improvised shotgun or sumpak. 

 

After firing his weapon, the man ran while four others continued to beat Mendoza. Then the suspects fled.

 

Mendoza was then rushed inside the hospital after a bystander checked his pulse and found it still beating.

 

According to a report on dzBB radio, an investigation showed the victim died of shrapnel wounds from the improvised shotgun. The victim was also hit with a broken bottle.

 

Suspects arrested

 

Police were able to identify and arrest suspects Robert Palacio, Jacinto Dante and Danilo Humalos at 11 a.m. Monday with the help of the video shot by the GMA News team.

 

Palacio and Dante have been charged with murder. Humalos was later released after it was found that he was not involved in the crime.

 

Palacio has denied he was at the scene.

 

"Nung gabi pong nagkarambulan, wala ako noon. Eh bigla na lang po kami dinampot noong umaga, nag-iinuman kami sa tindahan namin," said Palacio.

 

Dante, who has been identified by a witness as the one who fired the shotgun, likewise denied he took part in the lynching, saying he was with his family.

 

"Natutulog lang kasi ako sa bahay, bigla akong dinampot. ‘Yung gabi hong nangyari ‘yung rambulan, alam ko ‘yun. Pero kasama ko ‘yung pamilya ko nun... Sobrang dami ng mga tao, ‘yung iba ho turo na lang nang turo. Ako ‘yung dinidiin na ako bumaril? Kung ako ‘yun, dapat nagtago na ako," said Dante.

 

Senior Inspector Joey De Ocampo, Chief of the Manila Police Homicide Division, said the two were positively identified by witnesses as having participated in the crime.

 

"Dalawa rito eh na positively identified ng witnesses natin na dalawa sa rumesbak doon sa grupo ng kabataan. At ito ngang si Jacinto Dante ay nakuhanan ng video ng channel 7 during the actual killing," said De Ocampo.

 

A background check on the suspects revealed that Dante has previous cases of theft and violation of traffic rules and regulations, while Palacio was involved in a hacking incident on November 21, 2011. But the two suspects continue to deny any involvement in the crime.

 

"They opted to remain silent. Complete denial sila in spite of the fact na meron ng video na kita sila roon. Denial pa rin sila sa partisipasyon," said De Ocampo.

 

Police are still looking for others who may have taken part in the killing. –Carmela G. Lapeña/KG, GMA News