Evacuee finds new home in Navotas jail

MANILA, Philippines - A man whose house was blown away by typhoon “Pedring” found himself a new home at the Navotas police jail after he was arrested for stabbing two men in a Sunday afternoon street brawl.

Perlito Ramirez, 38; his cousin, Alexander Demetrial, 31; and a third man were accused of stabbing Frangey Sistual, 23; and Edgardo Nireda Jr., 55.

Perlito’s 12-year-old daughter, Jennifer, suffered a gunshot wound from a stray bullet after a still unnamed man, who introduced himself as a police officer, ran after her father and shot at him, hitting the girl instead.

Jennifer and the two stabbing victims were taken to the Jose Reyes Memorial Medical Center for treatment.

Perlito’s brother, Roger, 46, a pastor, told The STAR the brawl happened as his brother and his group were looking for a house they could rent since their house had been blown away by Pedring. Perlito’s family currently stays at an evacuation center in Barangay San Jose.

Roger said his brother only defended himself when Sistual’s group, which included some barangay tanods and a police officer, allegedly ganged up on him.

Roger said he is filing a countersuit against the policeman and the village watchmen who reportedly took turns beating up his brother.