2 men shot in Caloocan bar brawl

MANILA, Philippines - Two men who were drinking at a videoke bar were shot during a brawl with an unidentified policeman and his three companions in North Caloocan City Tuesday night.

Superintendent Carlito Dimalanta, Bagong Silang Police station commander, said handicraft worker Rodel Aluad, 24, and security guard trainee Reggie Mariano, 29, suffered bullet wounds in the body and were taken to the Quirino Memorial Hospital Medical Center in Quezon City.

Police Officer 2 Joselito Bagting said the shooting happened at around 11 p.m. Tuesday at the Jimyam videoke bar in Barangay 187.

Police said bar personnel neither inspected the policeman and his companions nor did they ask the suspects to deposit their firearms at the bar entrance.

As the night wore on, the victims became a bit rowdy and were accosted by the suspects, who were seated at a nearby table.

An argument followed and several shots were heard. The suspects fled after the shooting and are the subject of a follow-up operation, Dimalanta said.

Police recovered two shells from a 9mm pistol at the crime scene. – Jerry Botial