Three friends, including one minor, were shot dead on Monday by a Task Force Disiplina member in Barangay Batasan Hills, Quezon City.
According to James Agustin's report on "24 Oras," gunshots rang out around 2 a.m. on October 12, 2026, on a portion of Senatorial Road.
An 18-year-old man was declared dead on the spot in front of a store, while two of his friends, aged 15 and 19, managed to run to a nearby street but also died later on.
“Ang bawat isa po sa kanila ay nagtamo ng tig-iisang tama ng bala sa tagiliran, ang isa naman ay sa dibdib, ang isa naman ay sa ulo po,” Batasan Police Station Commander P/Lt.Col. Gemmer Tubiera said.
(Each of them sustained a single gunshot wound—one in the flank, another in the chest, and the other in the head.)
CCTV footage captured the suspect walking while holding a gun. He was immediately arrested during a pursuit operation by the police.
The suspect was identified as a 38-year-old member of the Quezon City Task Force Disiplina.
“Ako wala po akong pinagsisisihan kung sakali man na ganyan... mga salot na sila sa lipunan. ’Yon lang po ang masasabi ko,” the suspect told reporters.
(I have no regrets if that’s the case, because they are a plague to society. That is all I can say.)
He did not directly admit to the crime, but said he would leave it to the court to decide whether he committed it.
Based on the police investigation, the victims were buying food when the suspect, who had been drinking, approached them.
“Binawal nung supek ‘yung mga biktima natin kasi nga dis-oras ng gabi ay nasa labas pa. Ang ginawa naman ng mga kabataan, inasara pa siya. ‘Yon lang naman po ang talagang motibo dahil nga langos sa alak kaya nagawa niya ‘yung krimen,” Tubiera said.
(The suspect reprimanded our victims for staying out late at night. The youths, in turn, taunted him. That was the sole motive, and because he was heavily intoxicated, he committed the crime.)
Meanwhile, two of the victims' friends who survived the incident were left traumatized after having a gun pointed at them twice.
“Nakatambay po kami. Bigla po siyang lumapit sa amin. Ang sabi niya po samin, anong oras na raw po ginagabi na raw po kami tapos nung ‘di po nami siya pinansin lumayo na po kami sa kaniya, bigla po siyang bumunot ng baril sabay nagtakbuhan na po kami. Inikutan niya po kami doon na po siya nagpaputok,” one of the survivors recounted.
(We were just hanging out when he suddenly approached us. He asked us what time it was and noted that it was getting late. When we ignored him and walked away, he suddenly pulled out a gun, and we ran. He cut us off, and that was when he opened fire.)
Authorities recovered a gun with several bullets from the suspect, which is set to undergo ballistic examination to determine if it was involved in other crimes. Meanwhile, the motorcycle he allegedly used to flee was also impounded.
The Batasan Police have turned over the suspect to the Criminal Investigation and Detection Unit at Camp Karingal. The suspect is expected to face three counts of murder.
Justice
The families of the three victims are calling for justice over the untimely murder of their loved ones.
The sister of the 18-year-old victim said her brother was a good person who was supposed to apply for a job before the incident.
“Mabait po kasi talaga yung kapatid ko eh… Gusto niya pong magtrabaho kasi naawa po siya sakin, ganon po. Kaya dapat ngayong araw po lalakad na po sila kasi nakakuha na po ng mga ID. Sana po makuha namin yung hustisya na para sa amin po,” she said.
(My brother was really a good person… He wanted to get a job too because he felt sorry for me. They were supposed to process their papers today because they had already secured their IDs. I hope we get the justice we deserve.)
Meanwhile, the father of the 15-year-old victim mourned the death of his child, expressing hope that they will get proper justice for the three lives taken by the suspect.
“Masakit yung ginawa niya. Nag-aaral pa yung mga batang yon eh, kukunin niya nang ganon-ganon na lang. Sana mabigay ‘yung tamang hustisya sa kanila. Tatlo ‘yung kinuha niya,” the father said.
(What he did is painful. Those kids were still studying, and he just took their lives like that. I hope proper justice is served to them—he took three lives.) –Lyjah Tiffany Bonzo/NB, GMA News