Indian shot in Caloocan; suspects seek help to clear name

MANILA, Philippines - An Indian man was shot in front of his house Friday afternoon, and three other Indians his son had accused of being behind the attack are calling on government agencies to help them clear their name.

Amrik Singh, 42, was shot by two men on a motorcycle as he was talking to his son in front of their house in Bagbaguin, Caloocan City shortly before 5 p.m. His son, Amanpreet, identified Prabjot, Bikramjeet, Gurmukh, and Santok Singh as the ones who attacked him.

Amrik and the suspects in the attack are all members of the Sikh temple in Marilao, Bulacan. Among Sikhs, all men use the surname Singh and the women, Kaur. 

Prabjot and his uncles Gurmukh and Santokh were arrested when the victim’s son pointed to them as the attackers, while Bikramjeet is still at large. All three men were charged with frustrated murder.

The victim is recuperating at the MCU Hospital from two gunshot wounds in the back.

Caloocan City investigation division chief Superintendent Ferdie del Rosario said they are looking at business rivalry as a motive.

Framed?

However, Prabjot, in an interview at the Caloocan City Jail yesterday, said they had nothing to do with the attempt on Amrik’s life and they are just “being framed” because they filed several complaints with the National Bureau of Investigation, Bureau of Immigration, Department of Justice, and the local police against him.

Prabjot said Amrik had reportedly been threatening them, the priest, and other members of the Sikh temple since last year and was behind two men who robbed and tried to kill him last week.

He said Amrik is allegedly involved in several illegal activities and they have repeatedly sought the help of the government agencies “but nothing has come out of it until this incident happened.”

Prabjot said he was the only suspect when the police went to his house Saturday night, but when his uncles arrived, they were also taken into custody and charged.

The Caloocan prosecutor’s office has recommended P200,000 bail for the suspects.