Sons witness dad’s killing

A jeepney passenger barker was shot dead right in front of his two young sons in Quiapo, Manila, on Thursday afternoon.

Homicide investigators of the Western Police District identified the victim as 50-year-old Ricardo Aguilar, of Bulacan and a resident of 828 R. Hidalgo Street, Quiapo.

The suspect, Rosaldo Ramon, alias "Saldo," 38, a widower of Barangay 383 Zone 39, Quiapo is said to be a neighbor of the victim.

Initial police investigation showed that the victim was busy calling passengers along Carlos Palanca Street near the Muslim Compound at about 5 p.m. when the suspect approached the victim from behind.

Without saying a word, the suspect pulled out a gun and shot the victim once in the back of the head at close range. The grisly scene was witnessed by the victim’s two young sons, Alexander and Alfred.

Police said that after Aguilar fell bloodied on the pavement, Ramon pumped three more bullets in his head. Police said the suspect then turned on the victim’s two sons and trained his gun on them.

Fortunately, police said, the gun jammed and did not fire. The suspect then ran towards the Muslim Compound. Investigators said a personal grudge between the suspect and the victim could have sparked the bloody incident. – Mike Frialde