THE suspect in the killing of three people and wounding of four others in Makati City on New Year’s Day has surrendered, the Philippine National Police said on Sunday.
Roderick Perez, 41, a safety and emergency medical officer, yielded at the Comembo Sub-Station of the Makati City Police Station hours after the incident.
“This is a major breakthrough in the case. The PNP is going to get the account from the suspect while preparing the possible charges against him,” PNP chief General Dionardo Carlos said.
Initial investigation showed the victims were celebrating New Year with a drinking session along Magnolia Sreet, Barangay, Rizal, Makati City when Perez passed by on board his motor scooter with his 12-year-old daughter.
The suspect and the group of victims had a minor altercation regarding the latter occupying the narrow street.
Perez went home with his daughter, only to return to the scene armed with a .45 caliber pistol and fired successively at the victims, identified as Raymund Libaton, 52; Petronio Del Rosario, 50; and Francis Lloyd Libaton, 21, who all died.
Four others, Maria Elago, 57; Ian Jayson Biandio, 26; Janet Libaton, 52; and Lester Magcanas, 28, are being treated in hospital.
The incident happened as the PNP noted zero deaths related to the New Year festivities. It was, however, investigating four alleged stray bullet incidents in Ilocos region, Calabarzon, Northern Mindanao and Cordillera on New Year’s eve.
Despite these incidents, Carlos noted a significant drop in the number of stray bullet incidents in New Year 2022 compared with previous years.
The PNP is building up cases against arrested gun holders involved in 17 incidents of illegal discharge of firearms.
Carlos also commended local PNP units backed by LGU force multipliers for the strict enforcement of local Executive Orders on firecracker prohibition that significantly resulted in lower firecracker-related injuries this year.
Police records show 88 individuals were injured due to firecrackers from December 16-30, 2021.
The crackdown on illegal sale and use of firecrackers also resulted in the arrest of 31 individuals with the confiscation of their products worth more than P1.5 million.