Barangay captain fires gun amid clearing operations in Manila

A barangay captain was caught on camera firing his gun during a clearing operation on Saturday in Tondo, Manila. According to Marisol Abdurahman’s report in “24 Oras” on Monday, Barangay 122 Captain Rodelio Yu defended himself, saying that a father and his son rushed towards him.

“Umawat po ako at ang naitulak ko po ay isa kong tanod na may hawak na hagdan. Naitulak ko po ‘yun papunta doon kay Alvin,” he said.

(I was trying to pacify things when I accidentally pushed my tanod who was then holding a ladder. So I pushed him towards Alvin.) Isang putok then sugod, putok ulit ako ng isa sa lapag. Puro lapag, wala po akong tinutukan…nakatatlong putok po ako, puro lapag,” said Yu.

(One shot, then another one on the ground. I was shot the ground, I did not point a gun at anyone…I fired the gun thrice, but only towards the ground.)

But the other party, who is now detained at Manila Police Station 1, denied the claims of the barangay captain.

“Ay hindi (I did not do that),” he said, when asked if he really rushed towards Yu during the operations.

The commotion began after barangay personnel dismantled the tarpaulin in front of their house despite an agreement that they will be the one to remove them.

“Pagbalik niya ng ganun, bigla na lang bumunot ng baril…nang walang ka rason-rason…nabigla nga po ako. Bigla siyang bumunot ng baril…pinaputukan po ako sa ibaba,” the other party said.

(When he came, he suddenly pulled out his gun…without any reason… I was surprised. He pulled out his gun and fired on the ground.)

Yu is facing charges for illegal discharge of firearm and grave threats, while the other party is facing charges for direct assault.