Wild chase on EDSA

A former lawmaker is facing charges of indiscriminate firing and grave threats after shooting at a provincial bus along EDSA in Makati City the other night.

PO2 Arnel Noriega identified the suspect as Mohammad Omar Albano Fajardo, a resident of Cainta, Rizal and a former labor sector representative during the 10th Congress.

Initial investigation revealed that the incident started at around 10:30 p.m. last Wednesday near the EDSA-Ayala Avenue tunnel along the southbound lane of EDSA.

Fajardo had a run-in with a Quezon Liner provincial bus as both vehicles got too close to each other while approaching the tunnel. The altercation continued inside the tunnel, where the vehicle of Fajardo allegedly cut in front of the bus and was hit in the rear.

Despite the efforts of the ex-solon to force the bus to stop, the bus, driven by Severino Coronado kept on going towards the direction of Pasay City. Witnesses said as the car pulled up beside the bus, Fajardo fired four shots.

The chase continued up to the BLTB bus terminal in Pasay City, where the driver and conductor of the Quezon Liner bus alighted and ran for their lives.

Witnesses claimed that Fajardo also got out of his vehicle, and, with gun in hand, went after the two men.

It was only when security personnel of the bus terminal and a member of the Southern Police District-Traffic Enforcement Unit stepped in that Fajardo was pacified and subsequently arrested.

Fajardo told the police that his car was hit by the bus, prompting him to pursue the vehicle. He added that he fired a warning shot at the bus "for fear of his life."

Police quoted Fajardo as saying that there were several threats to his life in the past and that he merely fired his gun to protect himself.

Fajardo’s 9mm Glock pistol is now in the possession of the Makati police along with its permit.

Fajardo was taken to the Southern Police District headquarters for a paraffin test.

Police said that they may have to release the suspect as the complainants, the driver and conductor of the Quezon Liner bus, are still in hiding.