Barangay chief breaks up drinking session, shoots man

A barangay chairman allegedly shot a man for holding a drinking session in front of the official’s house in Tondo, Manila Friday night.

Police officers failed to find Barangay 76, Zone 7 chairman Romy de Leon at his house, according to Superintendent Vicente Tan, chief of the Manila Police District’s General Assignment Section, which handles cases against government officials.

Edmund de la Vega, 24, is reportedly recuperating from a bullet wound in the chest at the Jose Reyes Memorial Medical Center. He is reportedly scheduled to undergo an operation to remove the bullet.

From a bedside statement taken by Police Officer 2 Ronald Carlos, De La Vega said he and his friends were about to engage in a drinking session when a police mobile patrol passed by, prompting the group to continue their drinking in front of the barangay chairman’s house. De la Vega said it was the chairman’s nephew who assured them they would not be disturbed.

However, De Leon came down from his house and started to berate the drinkers, triggering an argument with De la Vega. The victim said the chairman tried to slap him but he was able to parry the blow. This angered De Leon and pulled out a .22 caliber pistol. De la Vega said the barangay chairman shot him twice, with one bullet hitting him in the chest. He said he was able to run away and was rushed by his parents to the hospital.

Tan said charges of frustrated homicide will be filed against De Leon, who remains at large.