Village chief shoots self in barangay hall

MANILA, Philippines - A barangay chairman shot himself in his office in Sampaloc, Manila yesterday.

Nestor Lacap, chairman of Barangay 509 Zone 50, is being treated at the University of Santo Tomas Hospital.

Inspector Francis Villanueva of Manila Police District Station 4 said Lacap may have tried to commit suicide over family problems.

He said the suicide try happened at past 11 a.m. A certain Ponching Flores discovered Lacap slumped on the floor, bloodied, his gun beside him.

Flores sought the help of barangay hall employee Mara Pascual, who asked help from neighbors. When the police arrived, the family asked investigators to give them some privacy, Villanueva said.