Lawyer killed in Binondo ambush

A 49-year-old lawyer was killed while his eight-year-old daughter was wounded after a lone gunman opened fire on them late Friday afternoon in Escolta street, Binondo, Manila.

Police released a cartographic sketch of the assassin of lawyer Franklin Tamarco, who died while being taken to the Manila Doctors’ Hospital. He took two bullets in the body.

His daughter Gail was taken to the same hospital for treatment of a gunshot wound in the back. The bullet from a caliber .45 pistol exited her right shoulder.

Tamarco’s wife, Elizabeth, escaped unharmed from the ambush that took place at around 5:15 p.m. last Friday along Nueva street near Escolta street in Binondo, Manila.

Police said the three were on their way to their house at 1897 Piy Margal street in Sampaloc, Manila from Tamarco’s law office at the A and T Building in Escolta, when they were ambushed.

Investigator Senior Police Officer 4 Alfredo Salazar said the father and daughter had just boarded their red Toyota Corolla Sedan (WRG-528) parked along Nueva street when the gunman, who had been waiting outside the law office, approached them casually.

Salazar said the assassin was described to be about 30 years old, 5’7" tall, with light complexion, straight hair and wore dark glasses.

Witnesses told probers the gunman knocked on the heavily tinted window of the lawyer’s vehicle and called out: "Attorney, attorney."

Before Tamarco could open the car’s window, the gunman fired successive shots at the lawyer, hitting him and his daughter.

People in the area, including students from nearby University of Manila, ducked for safety after hearing the shots.

The gunman then fled the scene on foot.

Salazar said he believes the gunman had three accomplices, two of them riding in tandem on a motorcycle, serving as lookout for the gunman. He said the assassins apparently established the victim’s pattern of movement.

Salazar said investigators recovered eight empty shells and an empty magazine of a caliber .45 pistol from the scene.

Police have yet to establish whether or not the wife was inside the car at the time of the attack.

But some witnesses said she escaped being shot because she had to send a text message before boarding the car, Salazar said.

Likewise, a motive has yet to be established.

"We heard that Atty. Tamarco has received death threats in the past so we will verify these threats as part of the investigation," Salazar pointed out.

He said police have recovered a brown T-shirt in an alley near Borquero street, a few meters away from the ambush. He is looking into the possibility that the gunman used the T-shirt but replaced it to avoid being recognized.

Salazar said he is optimistic that the gunman would be arrested soon.