THE jeepney driver who shot and killed another driver after they raced against each other from Divisoria all the way to Taft Avenue before engaging in a fisticuff, has been arrested by operatives from the Manila Police District-Homicide Section.          

Section chief Maj. Armand Macaraeg said the suspect, identified as Allan Bernales, 26, a stay-in driver in Manuguit, Tondo, Manila, readily admitted to authorities that he was the one who shot and killed his co-driver Jerick Saraosos,19,  of No. 39 Sandico St.,also in Tondo.                                                    

Berballes was nabbed by homicide operatives led by Macaraeg himself, along with PO3 Jupiter Tajonera, PO3 Charles John Duran, PO2 Ramoncito Tolentino and PO2 Bernardo Cayabyab, during a follow-up operation at 9 a.m. yesterday, along Sitio Boulevard in Teresa, Rizal.                                                         

Macaraeg said the two bore a grudge against each other since October last year, when the victim punched the suspect in front of the Binondo Church, just because of their terminal queueing.  

Another similar incident followed days later, when the two exchanged blows. Yesterday, the victim allegedly poked a steel pipe at the side of the suspect.                       

Owing to this, Bernales went home and got a home-made gun,until he and the victim again crossed paths, while aboard the jeepneys they were driving. 

The two tried to send each other off-track and then raced.  When they reached Taft Avenue, they got out of their respective jeepneys and engaged in a fistfight, until Bernales decided to get his gun and with it shot the victim once in the body, killing him instantly.

The suspect fled and went into hiding in Teresa, Rizal where the homicide operatives were able to trace and arrest him.  Appropriate charges are being readied against him.

With Milenette Sarah Uy & Adrian Stewart Co