Manhunt on for barangay captain

The Western Police District (WPD) launched a manhunt for a barangay captain after he shot and wounded a neighbor for playing his karaoke loudly in Pandacan, Manila yesterday morning.

Police said the suspect, Efren Zaida, barangay captain of Barangay 839 Zone 9, and a resident of 2851 Lorenzo del Paz st., Pandacan, Manila escaped after the shooting incident.

Investigator SPO2 Mario Salonga said the victim, Carmelito Abella, 41, the suspect’s neighbor, was rushed to Philippine General Hospital for medical treatment. He suffered a gunshot wound in the back. The bullet passed through the right side of his chest. At press time, Abella was unconscious at the PGH’s Intensive Care Unit.

Cristina Abella, the victim’s wife told reporters that her husband turned on their karaoke and played music loudly at around 7 a.m. yesterday while she and her children were preparing food for their fiesta. However, Abella said she overheard Zaida confronting her husband over the loud music. She thought the argument would be immediately settled but a shot rang out. When she checked she saw her husband bleeding.

Salonga said operatives of the WPD Station (10) Pandacan) went to the house of the suspect but he was no longer around. – Cecille Suerte Felipe