Suspects in NAIA fatal shooting being tracked

MANILA, Philippines - Police are now tracking down three suspects in the fatal shooting of Labangan, Zamboanga del Sur Mayor Ukol Talumpa.

Task Force Talumpa chief, Sr. Supt. Billy Beltran who is deputy director for operations of the Southern Police District confirmed this on Monday.

Beltran however declined to reveal further details saying the suspects are still being tracked down.

Beltran said field investigators reported that they are now closing in on the suspects and have ensured that the murder case to be filed against them will be airtight.

"Our men in the field have requested that the names of the suspects not be revealed at this point so as not to jeopardize the operation," Beltran said.

Beltran confirmed that there was only one gunman armed with a caliber .45 pistol and two accomplices, including the driver of the getaway motorcycle.

Beltran added that at this point, they are still looking at three possible motives for the shooting: politics, rido or clan war and illegal drugs.

Talumpa and his wife Lea were shot dead as they emerged from the Ninoy Aquino International Airport Terminal 3 (NAIA 3) arrival area before noon Friday.

The gunman wore a police uniform, a black jacket and a bull cap, apparently to hide his face, said Pasay City police chief Senior Superintendent Mitch Filart.

Two others were killed: Saripudon Talumpa, reportedly a nephew of the mayor, and 18-month-old Gil Thomas Estuesta Lirazan, who arrived at the NAIA with his parents from Bacolod.

The victims were declared dead on arrival at the Villamor Airbase Hospital in Pasay City.

Five others who were seriously wounded were also brought to the same hospital and later airlifted to the East Avenue Medical Center in Quezon City.

They were identified as Rosda Lindaga, 26; Amalia Lirazan, 58, and her daughter Marie Ann, 28; Diana Uy, 3, and Remayda Talumpa, 28.

Talumpa’s lone security was unarmed because his service pistol was with airline security.

Beltran earlier told GMA News that the hit on Talumpa was well planned with the suspects fully aware that Talumpa's lone security was unarmed during the attack.

Beltran added that the gunman was also a proficient shooter as he knew well how to handle a .45 caliber pistol in rapid fire and was able to change magazines.

Manila International Airport Authority (MIAA) general manager Jose Honrado said Talumpa and his wife arrived at the NAIA-3 on Cebu Pacific flight 5J 852 from Cebu at 9 a.m.

At around 11:15 a.m., they left the Customs area and proceeded to loading bay 1, where two men on a motorcycle pulled up. One of the men opened fire.

Chief Superintendent Christopher Laxa, chief of the Aviation Security Group, said 17 shells from a caliber .45 pistol were recovered at the scene.

Laxa said responding airport policemen chased the suspects, who sped toward Fort Bonifacio in Taguig.

“When we failed to intercept the suspects... we turned our attention to bringing Talumpa and the other victims to the hospital,” Laxa said in an interview.