Ex-tourism executive shot by robbers

MANILA, Philippines - Former tourism official and Philippine STAR reporter Nixon Kua and his older brother were shot and seriously wounded by armed robbers in Calamba City, Laguna late Saturday.

Kua, 47, sustained gunshot wounds in the face and body and placed under intensive care at the Calamba Medical Center.

His brother Alixon, 49, was shot in the left shoulder shortly before the suspects fled with P90,000 cash and an Apple Iphone.

Doctors later declared Alixon out of danger but Kua remained in critical condition after he was shot in the nose with the bullet exiting his nape.

Laguna police director Senior Superintendent Gilbert Cruz said they are eyeing an inside job in the attack on Kua, a columnist of Pang Masa, a tabloid of The STAR group.

Cruz said the money taken by the robbers were intended for the weekly salary of eight workers doing landscaping at Kua’s residence inside the exclusive Ayala-owned Greenfields Subdivision in Makiling highlands of Barangay Maunong.

Cruz noted the tight security at the subdivision.

“Even policemen have a hard time entering the gate of the subdivision,” Cruz remarked.

Cruz noted that only Kua’s eight workers had inside information that he would bring a big amount of cash for their weekly salary during the day.

Cruz said Kua, with his two children, arrived at the house of Alixon at past 8 p.m. Saturday.

Because it was raining hard, the two children went ahead inside their uncle’s house leaving behind Kua, who parked the car.

Cruz said Alixon’s househelp claimed four men ganged up on Kua and one of them opened fire when the victim refused to hand over his bag containing P90,000.

Alixon was hit in the left shoulder by one of the robbers when he tried to rescue his younger brother.

Cruz said the suspects even grabbed the cake and mangoes from Alixon’s househelp before escaping toward a grassy area.

Police later recovered the cake box leading to the apparent escape route of the suspects.

“We are presently determining the route the suspects used in their escape. We are also coordinating with the subdivision’s security guard to speed up the identification of the suspects,” Cruz said.

Alixon told investigators that four men suddenly appeared and one of them started shooting, hitting Kua in the face and different parts of the body.

Alixon said one of the suspects also shot him.

Alixon said he was waiting for his younger brother to get inside the house when the suspects appeared.

He said one of the suspects grabbed the handbag from Kua’s daughter, Sue Anne, which contained the cash and the cellphone.

Initial reports also said the robbers also took away Kua’s laptop, a necklace belonging to Kua’s wife Alice and other personal belongings inside the car.

Police recovered several empty shells of .45-caliber pistol at the scene.

Police gathered that Kua’s house is being built in the subdivision where he is planning to move in at the end of the month.

Kua’s house, located a block away from his brother’s residence, is being landscaped for several weeks. The victim has been paying the salaries of his workers every Saturday night.

“We strongly believe that somebody tipped off the suspects about the fact that the victim is carrying a large amount of cash during Saturdays,” Cruz said.

He added the eight workers would be called for questioning by police investigators.

Calabarzon police director Chief Superintendent James Melad and Cruz have provided a round-the- clock security for Kua at the hospital.

Melad formed Special Investigation Task Force Kua headed by Cruz to conduct a deeper investigation and arrests of the suspects.

Calamba police chief Superintendent Leovigildo Manaig stressed the incident had nothing to do with Kua’s work as a journalist.

“This is a robbery case, not work related of Kua as (member of the) media,” he said.

Laguna Gov. Jeorge “ER” Ejercito offered a P100,000 reward for information leading to the arrest of the suspects in Kua’s attack.

Sen. Sergio Osmeña Jr. condemned the attack on Kua.

“We are deeply saddened by this senseless assault and outraged by the cowardly attempt to harm innocent families,” Osmeña told The STAR in a text message. 

“Let is pray for our friend Nixon that God extends His healing powers over his wounds,” the senator said.

The National Press Club (NPC) expressed “utter dismay” over the state of the country’s peace and order following the attack on Kua.

“Even as we, members of the press, are always ready to help the authorities in its campaign against criminality, we cannot ignore the obvious – there is still much to be done to improve the utterly dismaying state of peace and order in the country as evidenced by the recent attack on former government official and columnist, Nixon Kua and his brother by armed robbery suspects,” said NPC president Benny Antiporda.

Kua worked as a reporter of The STAR in the 1990s before his stint as chief of the Philippine Tourism Authority (PTA) in early 2000. He later worked under Sen. Panfilo Lacson as media consultant.

In the last 2010 elections, Kua was said to be a key player in the media strategy team of President Aquino that helped lead to his victory.

– With Ed Amoroso, Christina Mendez, Cecille Suerte Felipe