Philippine man kills 8 in shooting spree (Pregnant lady and children)

[hsedin33]

Edit: Just a quick warning, this is pretty disturbing.

http://news.ca.msn.c...-shooting-spree

MANILA, Philippines - A man with domestic problems fatally shot eight people, including a pregnant woman and two children, after taking alcohol and drugs in a rampage Friday near the Philippine capital that ended when he was shot dead by police, officials said.

At least eight other people were wounded in Kawit township, about 16 kilometres (10 miles) south of Manila, Cavite provincial Gov. Jonvic Remulla said.

The violence happened days after the death of a 7-year-old girl who was hit in the head by a stray bullet during New Year's Eve revelry in Manila sparked public criticism over lax gun control in the Philippines. Friday's rampage fueled pressure for more assertive action by authorities to deal with unlicensed firearms.

Ronald Bae, who was killed in the shootout with responding police, had been on a "drug and alcohol binge" with his friends since Monday, drinking and taking methamphetamine, Remulla said.

He said Bae left a store where he and his friends were drinking but later returned with the caretaker of his house in Kawit and began the shooting spree in the surrounding neighbourhood.

The man had left his Kawit neighbourhood about a year ago after he lost an election for village chairman. He returned Monday because of a "marital problem" with his wife, whom he had left before New Year's, Remulla said.

It was not immediately clear why Bae went on the rampage. Police investigator Arnulfo Lopez said residents heard Bae threatening to kill the caretaker if he did not reload Bae's pistol during the shooting.

"He just shot at anyone he saw," Remulla said. "You could see that these were really acts of a madman."

Among the victims was a 7-year-old girl who was shot inside her home. The girl's 2-year-old sister and 4-year-old brother, who was Bae's godson, were wounded and in critical condition. No details were immediately available about the other wounded.

The pregnant woman died after being shot in the stomach, Remulla said. Her 6-month-old fetus also died.

GMA television reported that the woman made a frantic call for help to her mother, Baby Alberto, who heard screams and gunshots.

"She said, 'Please, don't! Please don't!'" Alberto quoted her daughter as pleading with the gunman. She said she was found dead in the bathroom hugging her 3-year-old daughter, who also died.

Edwin Lacorte, an uncle of the children who were shot, said he could hear them screaming from his home nearby.

"I could not do anything," he said. "I heard the shots."

Lacorte said he later saw bullet-riddled cushions that the children had apparently used to protect themselves during the attack.

Lacorte said that Bae soon approached his house but he fled with his wife and their four children, two grandchildren and three nieces.

"He was shooting at us as we were running," he said.

Abigail Valte, a spokeswoman for President Benigno Aquino III, said the killings "will certainly fuel the efforts of the (Philippine National Police) in its drive against loose firearms."

Police estimate there are about half a million firearms that are either unlicensed or have expired licenses around the country.

Proliferation of firearms — some smuggled and some manufactured locally — has long fueled crime, political violence and Muslim and communist insurgencies that have raged for decades in parts of the country.

Previous attempts by authorities to clamp down on unregistered weapons have yielded little result.

"Guns bring peace to humanity" said no one ever.

[LeanBeef]

I just don't understand some people in this world...

My thoughts are with the families of the victims.

RIP

[Buggernut]

Yet another day on Planet Earth.

[Tearloch7]

A whole new market for the American gun manufacturer's, their lobbyist's can go international and the pandering "gun-sucks" can trot out a litany of excuses .. none of which will bring any closure .. well done ..

[Wetcoaster]

If you have been in the Philippines you would have seen that the gun laws are seldom enforced and a popular past time during celebrations is to fire your weapon indiscriminately in the air.

The shooting comes on the heels of the death of a seven-year-old girl during the height of the New Year's Eve celebrations. Stephanie Ella and her father were watching a fireworks display outside their home in a Manila suburb on Monday when she was hit by a stray bullet.

The death triggered outrage and condemnation of poor law enforcement that allows unregistered firearms on the streets. Police estimate there are around half a million unregistered guns in the Philippines, while there are about 1.2 million registered firearms.

In response to Ms. Ella's death, Vice President Jejomar Binay said: "This incident should not be allowed to become just another statistic....We have enough laws to penalize but the problem has always been in the enforcement of laws."

Senator Loren Legarda said Ms. Ella's death was a "tragic incident" that could have been prevented "if the use of firearms in the country were more strictly regulated."

The Philippine National Police has reported that around 40 people hit were hit by stray bullets during the New Year.

"These weapons should be strictly used only for peace and order and keep our people safe from crime. They should never be used for reckless merry-making," said Ms. Legarda in a statement.

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424127887323374504578220863756671482.html

And as reported after the New Years fatality despite the gun control laws they are seldom enforced.

A seven-year-old grade school student who was killed by a stray bullet during the New Year revelry has become the “poster girl” in the renewed campaign for stricter gun control in the Philippines.

The victim, identified as Stephanie Nicole Ella, died on Wednesday afternoon in a government hospital in a suburban Quezon City, Metro Manila after she was hit on the head by a stray bullet during the New Year revelry.

Police said Ella was watching a fireworks display with members of her family in a “barangay” (village) in suburban Caloocan City, Metro Manila on New Year’s Eve when she suddenly slumped into the ground after she was hit by a stray bullet.

Ella, police said, was one of the more than 40 victims of stray bullets fired from the guns of revellers nationwide to welcome the New Year along with firecracker explosions and firework displays in keeping with the Chinese tradition that these would drive away evil spirits.

Malacanang Palace announced that President Benigno “Noynoy” Aquino has ordered the Philippine National Police (PNP) to ensure that the gun-wielder in Ella’s death would be arrested and meted out the punishment imposed by law.

Malacanang also issued a statement stressing that Ella’s death “is a sobering reminder of how a reprehensible act from a thoughtless individual can rob our people particularly of our children of their futures.” Vice President Jejomar Binay also joined in the increasing call for stricter gun control as he pointed out there were enough laws regarding the issue, which were just waiting for their “ strict implementation to the letter.”

Aquino earlier ordered the police to arrest vendors and customers using banned firecrackers and those firing their guns indiscriminately during the New Year revelry.

But officials admitted Aquino’s order and the pertinent laws have been observed more in breach than in implementation resulting in deaths and injuries to firecracker and stay bullet victims which soared to more than 700 as of Thursday morning.

http://gulftoday.ae/portal/a64bec96-d6cc-4da0-abbf-89dea3e8706d.aspx

[Tortorella's Rant]

Perhaps this pregnant woman should have been equipped with an assault rifle and provided the proper training.

[Canuckerbird]

I've been living in Manila since last January, and one thing I've noticed is that every school, mall, bank, train station, hotel, and sometimes even restaurants have armed guards posted at the entrance. These guards are often armed with shotguns rather than just pistols.

[hudson bay rules]

I've been living in Manila since last January, and one thing I've noticed is that every school, mall, bank, train station, hotel, and sometimes even restaurants have armed guards posted at the entrance. These guards are often armed with shotguns rather than just pistols.