3 hurt as shooting erupts following traffic altercation

THREE people, including a businessman, were wounded when they traded shots after a traffic altercation in Mandaluyong City at 5:50 a.m. on Sunday.

Insp. Herculano Mago, the city police’s investigation chief, said the incident took place on the northbound lane of Edsa in Barangay Barangka Itaas.

According to the police, aHonda Accord driven by Exequiel Adora was rear-ended by a Toyota Land Cruiser driven by Jason Emralino.

Adora, owner of Majestic Security Agency, was at that time travelling with his employees Jomar Balanlay and Reneboy Adora, Mago said. Both parties ended up arguing, leading to shots being fired.

Emralino, a businessman, remains in critical condition at Lung Center of the Philippines in Quezon City for a gunshot wound in the chest while Balanlay is at Ospital ng Makati for gunshot wounds in the arms.

Exequiel Adora, on the other hand, was also confined at Ospital ng Makati after he was shot in the arms and body. Reneboy Adora was unhurt.

According to the police official, it was still unclear who among the four fired the first shots.

Reneboy Adora, who Mago said was under investigation, told the police that after hearing the first gunshots, he fled.

Authorities found a .45 cal. pistol, a 9mm pistol and several shells at the scene. A check showed that the .45 cal. pistol was registered to Exequiel Adora while the other firearm was Emralino’s. All four men would be subjected to a paraffin test to determine who should be charged.

He added that they had also asked the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority for footage from a closed-circuit television camera installed in the area to help them determine what happened.