‘Property dispute’ behind gunshot in Salcedo village

MANILA, Philippines—The reported gunfire at the ground floor of a condominium building on HV de la Costa Street in Salcedo village, Makati city early Tuesday evening was a security guard firing a warning shot over a property dispute, police said.

Southern metro police district director Chief Supt. Jose Erwin Villacorte, in a text message to the Inquirer, said the guard at the Somerset building along the street fired the shot to “fend off people entering the building.”

One person sustained a minor injury from the shotgun pellet as the guard fired downward, Villacorte said.

A group was trying to forcibly enter despite being barred in a property dispute on the building, the police director confirmed.

“The group of the minor shareholders were ousted by the court via a temporary restraining order but tried to take over the building by force,” Villacorte said.

Somerset Service Residence Salcedo is now Greenstone Serviced Residences Makati.

Twitter user Brian Avanceña (@brickello) posted at 6:14 p.m. that he heard gunshots inside Somerset building, beside his workplace on HV de la Costa.

“Makati police has already pacified both parties and more than 100 people are now in Makati police station for questioning and recording of the incident,” Villacorte said.