Passenger shoots at trip-cutting driver, hits another driver instead

MANILA, Philippines - An irate passenger reportedly shot at a jeepney driver who turned back halfway through his prescribed route in Malabon City Friday night, but the bullet hit a tricycle driver instead.

Police said the unidentified suspect, who was traveling with his wife and son, argued with driver Jaime Silva, 50, when he decided not to go all the way to Gasak, Malabon’s northernmost barangay, from Recto in Manila.

When Silva turned back upon reaching the Pescadores restaurant along Dagat-Dagatan Avenue in Barangay Longos at around 10 p.m., the suspect shot at him before alighting from the jeepney with his wife and son.

The shot missed Silva but hit tricycle driver Arnel Senita, 39, who was in the area waiting for passengers. Senita is reportedly in unstable condition at the Dr. Jose Rodriguez Memorial Medical Center from a gunshot wound in the head.

The suspect and his family fled on foot toward the Damata Compound, a squatter’s colony. The Malabon City police were still conducting follow-up investigation into the case yesterday to identify and arrest the suspect. – Pete Laude