ANGELES CITY -- Police here have launched a manhunt operation against a son of the late Hukbalahap leader Luis Taruc for allegedly shooting a 25-year-old man in this city last January.
Senior Superintendent Danilo Bautista, chief of police here, said charges of either frustrated homicide or frustrated murder will be filed this week against former councilor Romeo Taruc.
“We wanted to file the charges against him as soon as possible but we are still waiting for the sworn statement of the victim, who is still in the hospital,” Bautista told Sun.Star Pampanga Sunday.
Taruc allegedly shot a certain Jason Gomez twice in the body after a heated argument during the latter’s birthday party in his residence in Diamond Subdivision, Barangay Balibago, around 10:20 p.m. of January 8.
Gomez is already out of danger, said Bautista.
Bautista said his office will also seek hold departure order against the former city councilor from the Bureau of Immigration. “This will prevent him (Taruc) from going out of the country,” the chief of police said.
Investigation showed that Gomez was celebrating his 25th birthday with his friends and relatives when Taruc, a neighbor in the subdivision, allegedly came and confronted the revelers “for the noise they created.”
A police report stated that Taruc left after shouting “unsavory remarks” against Gomez and allegedly came back with unknown caliber of firearm and shot Gomez twice, hitting him on the chest and back.
Taruc fled after the incident.
Gomez was rushed to a hospital for treatment.
Bautista said he believes the suspect is no longer in this city and is hiding somewhere. (JAM)