Jeepney chase in Manila ends with 1 driver dead; suspect flees

MANILA, Philippines—A jeepney driver was shot dead by a fellow driver who allegedly bore him a grudge Thursday afternoon while he was plying his route in Manila.

Jeric Saraosos, 19, the driver of a Divisoria-bound jeepney, of Tondo, was declared dead on arrival by attending doctors at the Philippine General Hospital from a gunshot wound in the stomach.

Improvised gun

He was shot with an improvised shotgun by a fellow passenger jeepney driver just as the two public utility vehicles stopped at around 2:30 p.m. at a red traffic light near the intersection of Taft Avenue and Ayala Boulevard in Ermita.

Another driver, Jim Estrella, 26, told reporters that he saw the two jeepneys outrace each other, and watched as the two drivers alighted from their vehicles.

One of the drivers was armed, the witness said.

He said the armed man chased Saraosos and upon catching up with him, shot the teenager.

“The shooter crossed Taft Avenue and flagged down a bus while his companion drove away on the passenger jeepney,” Estrella pointed out.

Grudge angle

Police Officer 3 Ferdinand Leyva, of Manila Police District Ermita Station 5, said that based on the statement of Saraosos’ father, the victim had been in a fight with a fellow PUJ driver.

“The suspect apparently had a grudge against the victim and they happened to meet on the road. He went after Saraosos in his passenger jeepney until they caught up with each other at the intersection,” Leyva said.

The police official said they have yet to identify the shooter and his companion.