A couple was shot dead in front of their five-year-old son in their house in Sampaloc, Manila on Monday, Sep 29.
“Law firm employee Ronaldo Batuto, 35; his wife, Nina, and their son were sleeping when the assailant—described as a tall, fair-skinned man wearing a cap, a black jacket and slippers—entered their house along G. Tuazon street and shot the victims at around 1:20am,” reports Rey Galupo in The Philippine Star.
According to witnesses, after running out of the couple’s home, the assailant ran to a waiting Toyota Avanza that sped toward Lacson Avenue.
Police said “there were no signs of forced entry in the house, indicating that the victims may have known their killer.” Investigators recovered seven spent .45 caliber bullet shells at the scene.
The report added: “The couple’s neighbors said the victims moved in last March. They said they heard Nina asking for help after the first two shots, which was followed by five more.”
Screengrab of photo taken by Ernie Peñaredondo, as posted on Philstar.com
