Metrobriefs

1 dead, 1 wounded as argument turns ugly

A 37-year-old man was shot dead by his neighbor in Quezon City the other day while a woman was wounded when she tried to protect her daughter from being hit by a stray bullet. Joel Arma, a resident of St. Vincent Street in Barangay Holy Spirit, died on the spot after he was shot in the back by Erwin Narvasa who immediately fled afterward. The wounded woman, Shiela Vinzon, remains confined at East Avenue Medical Center, also for a gunshot wound in the back. PO2 Anthony Tejerero of the Quezon City Police District’s Criminal Investigation and Detection Unit said the shooting took place at 10:30 a.m. on Tuesday after Arma and Narvasa argued in front of a sari-sari (retail) store on St. Vincent Street. At that time, Vinzon was buying something from the store when she saw Narvasa fire at Arma who ran away. A chase ensued and when Vinzon saw that her daughter was standing in the path of the two men, she ran toward her to get her out of harm’s way. However, a bullet hit her in the back while another one struck Arma, killing him on the spot.  Jeannette I. Andrade

Man linked to drugs, robbery killed as he slept

An alleged robber who had also served time for drugs was killed by two still unidentified men as he was sleeping in an alley. Jowey Bartolay, 23, a truck helper, died after he was shot repeatedly at 3 a.m. yesterday on Mulawin Extension Centennial in Nagpayong, Barangay Pinagbuhatan, Pasig City. Chief Insp. Oscar Boyles, chief of the Pasig police investigation unit, said that the victim’s relatives have refused to cooperate with probers. A witness told the police that he, Bartolay and two minors were sleeping in the alley when he saw two men dressed in jackets, caps and handkerchiefs covering their faces roaming in the area. According to the witness, he found the two men’s actions and appearance suspicious so he decided to hide in a house that was nearby. He added that after a few minutes, the two men returned to the alley. One of them took out a gun and shot Bartolay repeatedly although the minors were unharmed. “We are still looking at all possible motives,” Boyles said. A check with the city police’s warrant section showed that the victim, whom his neighbors had described as a notorious robber, was jailed at the Pasig City Police headquarters last year for drug possession. Senior Insp. Jun de Mayo, head of the warrant section, said that Bartolay was transferred to the Pasig City Jail that same year. He added that the victim may have been out on bail when he was killed. Kristine Felisse Mangunay

Boy crushed to death

A 4-year-old boy who had wandered into the warehouse of a paint manufacturing company on Tagdalit Street in Barangay Manresa, Quezon City, was crushed to death when 50 sacks of silicon sand which weighed 2,500 kilos fell on him. The body of Juzent Rain Badilla was found Wednesday morning by an employee of Pacific Paint Philippines Inc. PO3 Jaime de Jesus of the Quezon City police said the boy’s guardian told probers that the victim had asked her for permission to play outside their house. De Jesus said the boy may have gotten into the warehouse which was unguarded by crawling under the gate. Jeannette I. Andrade