MANILA, Philippines—A 40-year-old man was arrested on Saturday night for killing one of several barangay (village) watchmen who accosted him in Quezon City.
Jesus Rivera of Sitio (subvillage) Mendez shot and killed his 38-year-old neighbor and Barangay Baesa public safety officer Errol Maltu when he was cornered at CMP1 Sitio Pajo in the same barangay. Maltu died while undergoing treatment at Quezon City General Hospital for a gunshot wound in the chest.
Rivera initially hid in his house but eventually surrendered to barangay officials and Talipapa station policemen. He was turned over to the custody of the Quezon City police’s Criminal Investigation and Detection Unit.
PO2 Rhic Roldan Pittong said that Maltu and other watchmen were on patrol when they spotted a man in a dimly lit area. Just as they were to approach him, the man later identified as Rivera ran. He later fired at them when he was cornered, hitting the victim.—Jeannette I. Andrade