MANILA, Oct. 22 -- A 16-year-old hospital helper ran amok at a clinic in the northern Philippines, killing eight people and wounding three others with a rifle, police said Sunday. Police Commander Sr. Insp.
Rogelio Aspe said police were preparing multiple murder charges against Edgar Fernandez, who in a fit of rage late Saturday allegedly opened fired inside Mother and Child Hospital building in Olongapo City, 50 miles (90 km) north of Manila. Aspe said Fernandez claims the family of the owner of the hospital, Diosdado Dominado, has been mistreating him since he worked for them six months ago. The suspect also said he was mad at the family who refused to lend him extra money. Police said initial investigation shows that Fernandez took Dominado's M-16 rifle and shot at people inside the four-story clinic and later fired at buildings and people outside the hospital. Most of the victims were Dominado's relatives, including his four- year-old granddaughter. They suffered multiple gunshot wounds. One of the casualties died of a heart attack during the incident, police said. Aspe said Fernandez agreed to surrender one hour after the shooting incident when Olongapo Mayor Kate Gordon talked to him. He has been detained at a local police precinct.
