The Manila Police District arrested a man for randomly shooting two residents in Tondo, Manila, on Sunday, March 23.
Police identified the suspect as Lenard Blas, a 35-year-old tricycle driver from Tondo. His accomplice, Erwin Cubacub, remains at large.
The incident occurred at 1:45 a.m. on Friday, March 21, along Tagumpay Street, corner Esmeralda Street, Tondo.
The victims were identified as Rosalinda Sayo, 44, a resident of Barangay 38, Tondo, who sustained gunshot wounds on the neck and abdomen. She is currently undergoing surgery at Gat Andres Bonifacio Memorial Medical Center.
The other victim was identified as Ace Bernard Espinosa, 20, a resident of Barangay 39, Tondo, who was shot in the abdomen and upper arm. He is receiving medical treatment at Mary Johnston Hospital.
The suspects were initially described as two male suspects riding a violet Yamaha Mio motorcycle.
One of them was wearing a blue long-sleeve shirt and a white helmet while the other was wearing a black jacket and a cap.
Police said a .45-caliber fired cartridge was also recovered at the crime scene.
Following the incident, police conducted a follow-up operation and reviewed the closed-circuit television footage from the area and surrounding barangays.
This led to the discovery of the getaway motorcycle, a black Yamaha Mio without a license plate, abandoned along Laurel Street, Barangay 120, Tondo.
The investigation led authorities to 104 Building B, Sambahayan, Barangay 118, where they arrested the suspect.
A Taurus 357 Magnum, along with seven live .38-caliber bullets, were recovered from the suspect.
Investigators said that the motive of the suspect in the shooting remains unclear.
The arrested suspect will face charges of frustrated murder and violations of the Comprehensive Firearms and Ammunition Regulation Act (Republic Act 10591) and Section 261 of BP 881 (Omnibus Election Code of the Philippines).