(Update) DPWH usec wounded in another ambush
AIE BALAGTAS SEE, GMANews.TV
03/11/2009 | 04:15 PM
(Updated 7:05 p.m.) MANILA, Philippines - A Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) official was hurt Wednesday afternoon after two unidentified gunmen shot him outside the agency's office in Manila, police and radio reports said.
Ramon P. Aquino, DPWH undersecretary for operations for Luzon, was taken to Manila Doctors’ Hospital for treatment of u bullet wounds in the chest and abdomen.
Also wounded were Aquino’s driver, Victor Salonga, and his aide Antonio Canalete.
Preliminary police reports showed that Aquino was aboard his Toyota Fortuner outside the DPWH compound on Bonifacio Drive in Manila at 3 p.m. when two men armed with .45-caliber pistols approached and fired at him and his aides repeatedly.
Reports said Aquino’s sport utility vehicle stopped at an intersection when the gunmen attacked.
Canelate was slightly hit in the face while Salonga sustained a bullet hit in his chin. They were also taken to Manila Doctors Hospital for treatment.
The unidentified armed men wearing black shirts, short pants and who were believed at their young age immediately fled on board two motorcycles after the shooting spree. Two other suspects were believed to have acted as lookouts.
Superintendent Rogelio Rosales, chief of the Manila Police District (MPD)-Station 5 (Ermita), said three bullets believed to be coming from caliber .45 pistols hit the mirror of the official’s vehicle - one on the passenger side, another in the driver’s seat and another on the back passenger seat.
Police have yet to know the motive in the ambush but they are not discounting that the incident was related to his job as undersecretary of DPWH.
Previous attacks
The ambush occurred a day after an assistant regional director of the Land Transportation Office in the National Capital Region was shot by still unidentified assailants in Quezon City. Police said the attack on Camilo Guarin was "work-related."
Last month, an official of the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) and hisson were shot. MMDA Sidewalk Clearing Operations head Roberto “Bobby" Esquivel was not hurt in the ambush, but his son, Micko, was wounded while his driver, Johnny Agbay, was killed.
In a separate radio interview, Metro Manila police chief Director Leopoldo Bataoil assured that authorities will take action to resolve the ambush attempt.
“I assure you that the policemen will take action on that particular situation," Bataoil said adding that traffic enforcers will render their report once ready.
The government website said Aquino earned the praise of local officials in Central Luzon when he personally supervised road clearing, maintenance and monitoring activities along damaged infrastructure during the height of typhoon "Milenyo" and "Reming" when he was the DPWH Region 3 Director.
On the other hand, the DPWH website described Aquino as “fast tracker" and “work buff."
It said Aquino carved his own niche in the civil engineering profession through “sheer guts, perseverance, intelligence and good public relations." -
Responding operatives from the Manila Police District - Station 5 cordoned off the area where the ambush took place.. This triggered slight traffic congestion on both lanes. Aie Balagtas See, GMANews.TV
Ramon P. Aquino, DPWH undersecretary for operations for Luzon, was taken to Manila Doctors’ Hospital for treatment of u bullet wounds in the chest and abdomen.
Also wounded were Aquino’s driver, Victor Salonga, and his aide Antonio Canalete.
Preliminary police reports showed that Aquino was aboard his Toyota Fortuner outside the DPWH compound on Bonifacio Drive in Manila at 3 p.m. when two men armed with .45-caliber pistols approached and fired at him and his aides repeatedly.
Reports said Aquino’s sport utility vehicle stopped at an intersection when the gunmen attacked.
Canelate was slightly hit in the face while Salonga sustained a bullet hit in his chin. They were also taken to Manila Doctors Hospital for treatment.
The unidentified armed men wearing black shirts, short pants and who were believed at their young age immediately fled on board two motorcycles after the shooting spree. Two other suspects were believed to have acted as lookouts.
Superintendent Rogelio Rosales, chief of the Manila Police District (MPD)-Station 5 (Ermita), said three bullets believed to be coming from caliber .45 pistols hit the mirror of the official’s vehicle - one on the passenger side, another in the driver’s seat and another on the back passenger seat.
Police have yet to know the motive in the ambush but they are not discounting that the incident was related to his job as undersecretary of DPWH.
Previous attacks
The ambush occurred a day after an assistant regional director of the Land Transportation Office in the National Capital Region was shot by still unidentified assailants in Quezon City. Police said the attack on Camilo Guarin was "work-related."
Last month, an official of the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) and hisson were shot. MMDA Sidewalk Clearing Operations head Roberto “Bobby" Esquivel was not hurt in the ambush, but his son, Micko, was wounded while his driver, Johnny Agbay, was killed.
In a separate radio interview, Metro Manila police chief Director Leopoldo Bataoil assured that authorities will take action to resolve the ambush attempt.
“I assure you that the policemen will take action on that particular situation," Bataoil said adding that traffic enforcers will render their report once ready.
The government website said Aquino earned the praise of local officials in Central Luzon when he personally supervised road clearing, maintenance and monitoring activities along damaged infrastructure during the height of typhoon "Milenyo" and "Reming" when he was the DPWH Region 3 Director.
On the other hand, the DPWH website described Aquino as “fast tracker" and “work buff."
It said Aquino carved his own niche in the civil engineering profession through “sheer guts, perseverance, intelligence and good public relations." -
Responding operatives from the Manila Police District - Station 5 cordoned off the area where the ambush took place.. This triggered slight traffic congestion on both lanes. Aie Balagtas See, GMANews.TV
