Taguig police to file murder raps vs barangay watchman

MANILA, Philippines - The Taguig City Police has launched a hunt for a bantay bayan (barangay watchman) of Barangay Pinagsama (which is being claimed by Makati as Barangay Southside) who fatally shot a 25-year-old man and a seven-year-old boy on New Year’s Eve.

Taguig City Police chief, Superintendent Arthur Asis said they would be filing a complaint for murder against suspect Reymundo Liza, 40.

Liza fled and went into hiding immediately after the shooting of Mark Angelo Diego, 7 and John Edward Pascual, 25.

Diego, who was shot in the head, died on Friday night after being comatose at the Ospital ng Makati. Pascual meanwhile died Saturday at 8:05 a.m. also at the same hospital where he was rushed for gunshot wounds in the chest.

Initial police investigation showed that the boy’s family was outside their house on Bulusan Street in Barangay Pinagsama at about 12:20 a.m. when a drunk Liza arrived aboard a motorcycle and challenged Pascual to a fight.

Police said Liza then pulled-out a caliber .45 pistol and shot Pascual several times. One of the bullets, police said, hit the boy who was nearby.

Another guest of the family, Israel Lava was also injured in the shooting after he was hit by a stray bullet. He is now recovering at the Ospital ng Makati.