Bounty for road-rage killing suspect's arrest readied

Police have placed a bounty on US citizen Jason Ivler, prime suspect in the killing of a Malacañang official's son last week in Quezon City. The Bureau of Immigration also placed Ivler under its watchlist to prevent him from going abroad. "The [bounty] is a good amount that would encourage our citizenry to track down Mr. Jason Ivler," said Chief Superintendent Elmo San Diego of the Quezon City Police District. San Diego, however, refused to give an exact figure for the cash reward to be given to an informant who could lead police to Ivler, who has gone missing since the November 18 shooting incident. "Wala pang exact figure ngayon. Pero mamaya pag-uusapan namin at malalaman na ang halaga (We have yet to decide on the exact amount of the bounty. We will meet later and decide)," San Diego told GMANews.TV in a phone interview.

According to witnesses, Ivler shot Renato Ebarle Jr., 27, at close range with a .45 caliber pistol after a traffic altercation last November 18 on Boni Serrano Avenue in Quezon City. Ebarle Jr. was the son of Presidential Chief of Staff Renato Ebarle Sr., while Ivler is the nephew of folk singer Freddie Aguilar and stepson of British diplomat Stephen James Pollard. After the shooting, witnesses said, Ivler sped off from the crime scene on a Honda CR-V, which was later found to be owned by Pollard. Days after the incident, the British national went to the National Bureau of Investigation to wash his hands off the killing and told authorities that his son has been missing since the incident. Watchlist To help policemen zero in on Ebarle's whereabouts, the Bureau of Immigration has already placed Ebarle under the watchlist of all major ports in the country. "The suspect is a flight risk, and poses an immediate danger to everyone and we should take every measure to prevent him from leaving the country," said Immigration Commissioner Marcelino Libanan. Libanan said officials from major airports in the Philippines have been alerted to report any attempts to sneak Ivler out of the country. These airports include the Ninoy Aquino International Airport in Manila, Diosdado Macapagal International Airport in Pampanga, Laoag International Aiport in Ilocos Norte, Mactan International Airport in Cebu, and the Davao International Airport in Davao City. Ivler's mother and Freddie's younger sister, Marlene, previously appealed to her son to yield to authorities. "To Jason, I say if you are guilty, I beg you with all my heart to surrender yourself and face this," Marlene said during a book launch over the weekend. "If you are guilty then I have accepted your death." But Ebarle Sr. was not buying Pollards' statement about the missing Ivler. "Ang paniwala ko (My belief is that), they are just denying it. I urge them to please cooperate with the police and the NBI," he said in a report. But whether or not Ivler's parents have knowledge on their son's whereabouts, police are certain someone could be helping Ivler evade arrest. "Apparently somebody's giving asylum to Ivler and hopefully huwag nilang gawin yan because they will be responsible for this action," San Diego said. The QCPD director added that charges of obstruction of justice could be filed against those "harboring criminals" like Ivler. Authorities reiterated their warning that Ivler, who is still in possession of the unlicensed gun he used in the incident, was "armed and dangerous." Ivler is not a neophyte in facing criminal charges. In 2004, he figured in a road accident that resulted to the death of Presidential Assistant for Resettlement Nestor Ponce Jr. The case remains pending at a Pasig City court. Diplomatic plates The incident has prompted the Department of Foreign Affairs to remind foreign dignitaries to properly use their vehicles that bear dignitary plates. In a note verbale circulated to various diplomatic missions and international organizations, the DFA said only accredited people could use the diplomatic plates for official businesses. Unlike in other countries, vehicles in the Philippines with diplomatic license plates are not exempted from the number coding scheme and are not given priority in parking space. The diplomatic plate’s only use is to identify the passenger as one from the diplomatic corps, Foreign Affairs spokesperson Ed Malaya told GMANews.TV. “Only privileged persons to whom a diplomatic corps (DC) or other exempt vehicle (OEV) license plate has been issued and any of his/her qualified dependents who are part of the privileged person’s household and who has been accredited as such by the Philippine Government shall have use of the privileged person’s vehicle carrying diplomatic plates," the DFA said. Malaya did not say whether Pollard was liable for any legal violations when he allowed other people to drive the vehicle for purposes not related with his worlk at the ADB. “We will review the policy on the use of diplomatic plates, which should be accounted for or surrendered once the diplomat leaves the country," Malaya earlier said. Based on the agreement between the Philippine government and the ADB headquarters, the international bank shall hold its employees liable for any abuses they commit. “The Bank shall take every measure to ensure that the privileges, immunities, exemptions and facilities conferred by this agreement are not abused and for this purpose shall establish such rules and regulations as it may deem necessary and expedient," the agreement stated. - LG/RSJ, GMANews.TV