Authorities have charged a 37-year-old resident of San Miguel, Manila after he allegedly shot a village official in retaliation for disqualifying him from receiving COVID-19 cash aid from the government.
Suspect Aiman Musa shot 67-year-old Chairman Hashim Amatonding with a caliber .45 pistol in Village 648 in Zone 67 on Wednesday, at about 4:30pm.
Musa shot the victim once, but his gun malfunctioned. The infuriated suspect reloaded his weapon and shot at the chairman again but missed. Reports said Amatonding was not killed, but failed to say if he was injured.
Manila Police District (MPD) Public Information Office Chief Carlo Manuel alleged that Musa was seeking revenge after the suspect was removed from the list of beneficiaries of the Social Amelioration Program, the government’s dole out to unemployed and low-income families in light of the enhanced community quarantine caused by the pandemic. Musa was expecting to receive PHP8,000 (US$157).
Police arrested the suspect at the village hall, where the scene of the crime took place. Authorities seized his pistol, along with a magazine loaded with six live bullets. MPD said Musa failed to show any license for his gun.
Musa is now detained at the MPD jail and will be charged with attempted murder and illegal possession of firearms and ammunition.
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