Barangay chairman kills another at Manila meeting

MANILA, Philippines - A barangay chairman shot dead a fellow barangay head during an argument at a meeting of barangay officials in Sampaloc, Manila Saturday night.

Barangay 473 Zone 47 chairman Hilario Romano died on the spot after he was shot by Barangay 80 Zone 47 chief Jonathan Florendo during the “monthly zone meeting.”

Witnesses said Florendo arrived late for the meeting and was drunk and quarrelsome. When a remark made him draw his 9mm pistol, other officials confiscated his gun and ejected him from the meeting, telling him they would return it the next day when he was sober.

Florendo, however, reportedly told one of his sons to bring his other gun. He shot a window of the barangay hall, hitting Romano, who died on the spot.

Florendo and his son fled after the incident and remain at large.