2 brods shot in row over water

Two brothers are now fighting for their lives in hospitals after they were shot and critically wounded by their neighbor over a petty quarrel on who should first fetch water from a public faucet over the weekend in Malabon.

Noli Fria of 244 C. Arellano st., Barangay Baritan, Malabon, is now under observation at the Jose Reyes Hospital due to a bullet wound in the stomach while his brother Ramon, who sustained a gunshot wound in the neck, is in critical condition at the Mary Johnston Hospital.

Suspect Rafael Santos, who remains at large, is now being sought by the police.

Investigation showed that at about 9:50 p.m. last Good Friday, Ramon and the suspect queued for water from a public faucet along C. Arellano st. in Barangay Baritan, Malabon.

The orderly line up, however, turned into a commotion when Ramon and the suspect reportedly engaged in a heated verbal tussle after both claimed to be first in line.

Ramon thought that his row with his neighbor was already over when Santos hurriedly left the area.

He, however, got the surprise of his life when Santos came back moments later with a handgun and without any word shot him once in the neck, police investigator PO2 Jorge de la Cruz said.

Ramon’s brother, Noli, who witnessed the shooting, ran to his brother’s aid but was also shot by Santos, De la Cruz added.

The suspect immediately fled after the incident with his weapon.

Police only learned about the incident at around noon Saturday when the victim’s brother, Dick, went to the police station.

Superintendent Ernesto Fojas, Malabon police chief, immediately formed a team to track down the suspect.

Thrill killer

Meanwhile, a 39 year-old tricycle driver was shot dead, while his daughter was seriously wounded by a thrill killer in front of their house last Friday in Quezon City.

Victim Bernardo Obinala, a resident of 171 Alcantara st., Barangay Banlat, Tandang Sora, sustained bullet wounds in the body and died while receiving medical treatment at the St. Paul General Hospital.

His daughter, identified as Bernadette Obinala, 13, is currently confined in the same hospital after suffering gunshot wounds in her shoulder and hand.

Police are now hunting the suspect, known only as "Michael" who is reportedly a drug user. – With Nikko Dizon, Matthew Estabillo