Two Japanese killed in Malate shooting; suspect identified

Two Japanese nationals were killed in a shooting incident in Malate, Manila, on Friday night, August 15.

The victims were shot by suspects riding a motorcycle shortly after they alighted from a taxi along Malvar Street; as of Monday, the police are now holding two persons of interest in connection with the crime.

CCTV footage showed a brief commotion before people fled the area in panic and revealed the face of one suspect when he briefly pulled down his mask while buying cigarettes at midnight on August 17.

A witness has come forward to positively identify one of the suspects through photographs, confirming that this individual was seen shouting 'Walang makikialam' ('No one interfere') moments after the shooting.

The Manila Police District (MPD) has formed a Special Investigation Task Group called SITG 'Malvar', which is working on identifying the perpetrators and determining the motive for the attack.

Meanwhile, the police have recovered the getaway vehicle of the suspects abandoned at the corner of Malvar Street and Taft Avenue on Saturday morning.