05 Aug 2025

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A 45-year-old tricycle driver, Alvin Gary Rotairo of Burgos Street, Paco, Manila, was fatally shot over a financial dispute with a neighbor he had previously lent money to. Rotairo was rushed to the Philippine General Hospital (PGH) but succumbed to multiple gunshot wounds sustained during the attack.

According to an investigation led by Police Chief Master Sergeant Boy Niño Baladjay of the Manila Police District homicide division, the incident occurred at approximately 3:40 a.m. on Monday. The victim was reportedly drinking with a friend and a neighbor when the suspect, identified as 32-year-old Mark Julius Rey Bendal, arrived at the scene.

Eyewitnesses said Bendal immediately brandished a firearm and opened fire on Rotairo, discharging several shots before fleeing on foot toward an unknown location. Authorities learned that the altercation stemmed from an unresolved debt, with the suspect allegedly refusing to repay the money borrowed from the victim. The amount involved was not disclosed by Rotairo's live-in partner.

Police continue to investigate the case and are searching for Bendal, urging anyone with information to come forward. The tragic incident underscores the potential dangers of personal financial conflicts escalating into violence.