Birthday boy winds up in hospital

A man who had celebrated his 32nd birthday on Sunday evening was shot several times as he was on his way home in Malabon City.

Ariston Baluyot, a jobless resident of Dionisio Street, Barangay (village) Maysilo, Malabon City, suffered serious injuries after Maysilo barangay tanod (watchman) Willy Marayag shot him Monday morning. Police reports showed that the incident happened around 1:30 a.m. at the corner of M.H. del Pilar and Yanga streets in Barangay Maysilo, Malabon City.

Investigation revealed that Baluyot was walking home after celebrating his birthday when the suspect, who was on duty in an outpost at the area, stopped him. When the victim asked why he was accosted, an argument broke out between the two. Suddenly, the suspect drew a gun and shot the victim several times, hitting him in the left leg.

Despite his injury, Baluyot was still able to run back to his house. The victim was brought to the Pagamutang Bayan ng Malabon but had to be transferred to Jose Reyes Memorial Medical Center. The police immediately went to the area where the shooting occurred but failed to arrest the suspect who escaped.—Nathaniel R. Melican